In a 21 February speech in the European Parliament, renowned professor Jeffrey Sachs presents a detailed historical and geopolitical analysis of U.S. foreign policy and its consequences, particularly in relation to NATO expansion, the Ukraine war, and European security.
Drawing from his decades of firsthand experience advising leaders in Eastern Europe, Russia, and the United States, Sachs argues that the current crisis is the result of a long-term American strategy of unipolar dominance, dating back to the early 1990s.
Sachs outlines how, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the U.S. adopted an aggressive foreign policy that disregarded Russian security concerns, violated prior assurances regarding NATO’s eastward expansion, and engaged in regime change operations across the globe. He provides specific examples, from the wars in Iraq, Libya, and Syria to the U.S.-backed overthrow of Ukraine’s government in 2014. He argues that these policies, driven by a belief in U.S. global hegemony, have led to unnecessary conflicts, widespread instability, and the alienation of potential diplomatic partners.
Regarding Ukraine, Sachs presents Russia’s invasion as a reaction to years of NATO encroachment and U.S. efforts to push military infrastructure closer to Russia’s borders. He directly compares Russia’s security concerns to how the U.S. would react if China or Russia established military bases in Mexico or Canada, suggesting that Washington would view such actions as intolerable threats, and would go to war "within 10 minutes."
He emphasizes that within a week of the invasion, Ukraine and Russia were engaged in peace negotiations—negotiations that were ultimately derailed by U.S. and UK intervention, prolonging the war at immense human cost.
Sachs also critiques the Biden administration’s approach to the war, arguing that its refusal to negotiate in late 2021 and early 2022 needlessly escalated the crisis. He describes a conversation he had with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, in which he warned that refusing to publicly rule out NATO expansion to Ukraine would lead to war—only for Sullivan to dismiss his concerns. Sachs highlights this as emblematic of a broader failure in U.S. foreign policy: a reliance on unilateral decision-making and game theory rather than actual diplomacy.
Sachs warns of the risks posed by a fragmented world order, including the growing tensions between the U.S. and China and the unchecked influence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on American foreign policy. He argues that Netanyahu has manipulated U.S. decision-makers into aligning with Israel’s interests, particularly regarding conflicts in the Middle East, at the expense of broader global stability.
In his concluding remarks, Sachs urges Europe to reclaim its own foreign policy, negotiate directly with Russia, and pursue a realistic security framework that does not rely entirely on NATO or U.S. directives.
He emphasizes that Europe will have to live with Russia as a neighbor for the foreseeable future and that demonizing Russia, rather than engaging in diplomacy, serves neither European security nor Ukrainian interests. He calls for a fundamental shift in global strategy—one that prioritizes diplomacy, regional cooperation, and mutual security arrangements over military expansion and coercion.
Ultimately, Sachs argues that the greatest obstacle to peace is not inherent geopolitical rivalries but the deeply flawed decision-making processes that have characterized U.S. strategy for the past three decades.
--
Jeffrey Sachs said, ‘When the Soviet Union ended in 1991, the view became even more exaggerated. The view was that we [the US] run the show. We will clean up from the former Soviet Union. We will take out any remaining Soviet-era allies. Countries like Iraq, Syria, and so forth will go. And we’ve been experiencing this foreign policy for essentially 33 years. Europe has paid a heavy price for this because Europe has not had any foreign policy during this period. No voice, no unity, no clarity, no European interests, only American loyalty.’
He added that the European Union should be the main trading partner of Russia. ‘Europe and Russia have complementary economies. The fit for mutually beneficial trade is very strong. The Trump administration is imperialist at heart. Trump obviously believes that the great powers dominate the world. The US will be ruthless and cynical, and yes, also vis-à-vis Europe. Don’t go begging to Washington. That won’t help. Instead, have a true and independent European foreign policy.’