<p>In this episode, we return to the European continent to analyse why leadership remains paralysed by the "Western Bubble". While we dedicated much of last week's episode to the United States, Europe’s current aimlessness and blind actionism deserve a much deeper dissection.</p><p></p><p>German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s recent comments at a school regarding the US war in Iran serve as a perfect example of the managerial mindset. By calling the US "humiliated" without a broader strategic plan, Merz has managed to anger Washington without gaining any of the geopolitical soft power benefits that Prime Minister Sánchez achieved for Spain.</p><p></p><p>We discuss why European leaders are so beholden to a neoliberal model that prioritises tomorrow’s stock market over long-term strategic autonomy. From the presence of 33,000 US troops on German soil to the lack of a 2040 vision, we explore why the "reasonable" ones in the room are actually the ones making the West increasingly fragile.</p><p></p><p>This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights &amp; Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank">[email protected]</a>.</p>