Donald Trump's distancing from Europe means richer countries now want EU membership for protection in a more fragile world.
Weapons not wealth: How the EU’s lure for new members switched focus
Geopolitical shifts under Donald Trump’s administration have led Western European nations to seek EU membership primarily for security protection rather than economic benefits. This pivot exposes vulnerabilities in the EU’s enlargement strategy, potentially destabilizing regional cohesion and creating new entry points for influence operations or cyberattacks targeting aspiring member states.