Most EU countries have been demilitarizing for 30 years more and more, with the strategy being "it’s a new world without wars, and also big daddy USA will protect us,l

That’s not the Europe I see now and sounds like a US President trope. I would agree that post-Cold War that was the case, but I’d say in the last decade at least, it’s not.

But, genuine question as I’m open to being wrong, saved this is an area that interests me, do you have sources for this?

no one gives a shit what kids are doing on their devices

Except Joe. And people like Joe. Whose surveillance of kids is now not only easier, but sanctioned.