In August 2021, President Biden ended the long chapter of Western intervention in Afghanistan with his immediate withdrawal of troops from the Afghan territory. Following the subsequent seizure of Kabul by Taliban militants, the country’s unfolding political, security, and humanitarian crisis has captured the attention of the world. In Europe, the fallout of the ‘chaotic’ evacuation has sparked dialogue on the broader significance of President Biden’s unilateral decision. The concept of strategic autonomy, a term already ubiquitous in EU security discourse, comes to the fore with a renewed sense of urgency. Calls by scholars, experts, and both EU and national-level officials for a more serious commitment to Europe’s empowerment as an independent actor are reverberating through the media. This article examines some of the dialogue emerging from Europe and discusses the potential for turning rhetoric into action.