The American security guarantee is a failing promise. Washington is turning its eyes inward. The era of US protection is dying.

European leaders are facing the reality of a broken NATO. They cannot depend on a superpower consumed by its own political rot. The only path left is for Europe to build its own nuclear deterrents.

The following features are part of the new reality.

• The death of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
• The start of a new European arms race.
• The end of the nuclear umbrella.

This is not a drill. The machinery of destruction is simply being redistributed. We are just waiting for the launch.