Here's why:
* Basque is a language isolate: This means it is not related to any other known language family, including Indo-European.
* Pre-Indo-European origins: Basque likely predates the arrival of Indo-European speakers in Europe. This is supported by archaeological and linguistic evidence.
* Resistance to linguistic change: While the Basque language has been exposed to influences from surrounding Indo-European languages like Spanish and French, it has retained its unique features and grammatical structure.
While other regions in Europe, like the Caucasus, also have languages that are not Indo-European, Basque stands out for its demonstrably deep pre-Indo-European roots and its enduring isolation from the Indo-European family.