The Owned Continent: How to free Europe from American military, economic and cultural dependence / English edition by Dave Keating (

 

The Owned Continent: How to free Europe from American military, economic and cultural dependence by Dave Keating has received largely positive advanced praise, with reviewers calling it an "invaluable exploration" and "compulsory reading" for European leaders.

 

Summary of the Book

The book, written by Brussels-based American-European journalist Dave Keating, argues that Europe effectively became an American "protectorate" after World War II and has struggled with an enduring dependence on the United States ever since. Keating contends this reliance—militarily, economically, and culturally—explains why Europe "punches below its weight" on the global stage.

Keating suggests that many Europeans are so culturally intertwined with the US (through Hollywood, music, etc.) that they struggle to view America as anything other than a friend, which has prevented them from accepting that threats might also come from the West.

Ultimately, the book aims to be constructive and prescriptive. It offers a blunt assessment of the situation and outlines six essential steps for the European Union to band together, reclaim "strategic autonomy," and exercise power on the world stage.

 

Key Reviewer Sentiments

"Merciless mirror": Sophie in 't Veld, a former Dutch MEP, stated the book "is holding up a merciless mirror to us, Europeans" and "should be compulsory reading for all political leaders in Europe".

"Comprehensive, insightful and accessible": Christopher Alessi, Editor-in-Chief of The Parliament Magazine, described it as a "must-read book" that provides a "deep-dive into the historical roots" of Europe's reliance on the US.

Illuminating for a broad audience: One American reviewer found the book "illuminating, and understandable for an American without a lot of experience with EU politics".

Critique of leadership: Reviewers note Keating is unsparing in his critique of current EU leadership for perpetuating this reliance.

The book was published in late 2025. You can find it on various online booksellers like Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

The Owned Continent: How to free Europe from American military, ...

Reviews: "Europe has long punched below its weight on the global stage and this book offers an invaluable exploration 

 

The Owned Continent: How to free Europe from American military, economic and cultural dependence Paperback – 9 Dec. 2025

English edition  by Dave Keating (Author)

 

Why have Europeans surrendered to Trump?

 

In 2025, Europe endured a continental-scale humiliation. The EU and UK gave in to Donald Trump’s tariff extortion – agreeing to lopsided trade deals, tribute-like payments and adjustments to domestic laws. At NATO, European leaders grovelled – calling the US president “daddy” even as he threatened to annex Greenland by force. “They call me the president of Europe,” Trump bragged. Terrified of losing US protection from Russia, European leaders have accepted terms that echo the coercion Europe itself once imposed on China during its ‘century of humiliation’. Yet citizens accepted it. Why?

 

Journalist Dave Keating says the reason goes far beyond geopolitics. America permeates Europeans’ daily lives: television, music, news, technology, commerce and social media all create psychological dependence. Many Europeans feel so culturally intertwined with the US it’s almost like they live in it – making it hard to imagine America as anything other than a friend. That, Keating contends, is why Europeans capitulated while other global powers like Brazil, China and India didn’t. And it’s why so many can’t accept that the threats to Europe don’t just come from the East, they also come from the West.

 

The Owned Continent offers a blunt assessment of Europe’s dependence and describes how Trump has exploited it. Yet Keating also proposes a way out: six essential steps to reclaim strategic autonomy and escape Washington’s control – by using the power of the European Union.