Michal Onderco, REMIT’s partner in the Netherlands’ Erasmus University Rotterdam, has published a new op-ed, discussing the US’ use of AI militarily, and what that could mean for its partners – Europe included.
In this commentary, Onderco argues that artificial intelligence risks enabling “strategic stupidity” in policymaking and security contexts. Rather than improving the quality of decisions, AI may encourage overreliance on systems that generate tactically brilliant but strategically flawed outcomes, based often on poor planning for what comes next.
As Onderco explains, AI systems which enable high-speed data processing and targeting, enables the United States to launch military operations without considering their strategic consequences, focusing on tactical excellence.
Onderco emphasizes that this dynamic poses a particular concern for Europe, because any US strategic blunders have a way to become alliance strategic blunders, highlight the disparity which will create difficulties for alliance operations, and because American blunders have direct impact on Europe due to Europe’s overreliance on the United States for its defense.
As Onderco says: “As debate about governing AI continues, it is important that the European leaders realize broader strategic trends in military applications of artificial intelligence.”
The commentary was originally published by the European Leadership Network (ELN). An independent, non-partisan, pan-European network of over 450 past, present, and future European leaders, the ELN offers practical real-world solutions to political and security challenges.
Abstract
Emerging technologies are giving the United States unprecedented levels of tactical excellence and enabling strategic stupidity. The combination should terrify European leaders.
In recent months, two operations showcased how modern technologies, especially AI-enabled sensing and targeting, now allow the US military to conduct missions that would once have been dismissed as impossibly dangerous.
Full citation
Onderco, M. “AI Enables Strategic Stupidity. That Should Terrify Europe”, European Leadership Network, April, 2026,
https://europeanleadershipnetwork.org/commentary/ai-enables-strategic-stupidity-that-should-terrify-europe/