Europe is losing its big brother. Trump's goal: to sow discord?
(B2) For years, the American big brother has always been there alongside the Europeans, often supporting them, sometimes chastising them, often taking the 'lead' or letting the Europeans take it from time to time. Very often, before taking a position or making a decision at the international level, on both sides of the Atlantic, we consulted each other. As in a family, there were of course sometimes differences of opinion, arguments, and even slammed doors, but never very deep or too major dramas. American and European foreign policy was largely aligned: on sanctions against Iran — then the Iranian nuclear deal — on sanctions with Russia, on the Middle East, on the Africa, etc
Transatlantic solidarity
Of course, that hadn't stopped everyone from playing their card when they could or certain jealousies from arising. The Americans have sought to train the Europeans on their priorities – in Iraq, on the anti-missile shield – even if it means dividing the Europeans. But that was not the goal. The allies remained allies. The United States needed a European construction that works well. Both counted on each other. When the United States suffered the attack in September 2001, all Europeans felt concerned. And vice versa. When the Europeans were entangled in the economic crisis, the American president and his administration did not hesitate to make phone calls and put pressure on the Europeans to find a compromise...
The big brother abandons his role
Tomorrow with Donald Trump, this may no longer be the case. Make no mistake about it. I'interview given by the billionaire to the Times (the former newspaper of Boris Johnsson) and to the Bild (the popular German daily which is not known for its great Europhilia) bears witness to this. Except to explain that everything Donald Trump says is a web of nonsense – which no one dares to say – they sow at least trouble, uncertainty, worry. This result is already notable, in itself. Usually when they were in doubt, or even in certain certainties, the Europeans waited to know the American position to align themselves or to position themselves. Tomorrow they will no longer be able to count on the "big brother" to indicate the route.
Objective: to mess things up
But there is worse... Throughout the interview, Donald Trump seems to have only one goal: to break as much as possible any spirit of European unity. For Trump, Europe is " too german and the Brits are right to walk away. For him, Europe is wrong from start to finish: from the policy of welcoming refugees to the regulation of the environment. And he calls, without pretense, other countries to leave the boat. Its objective seems very clear: to rely as much as possible on centrifugal forces — the British of Brexit but also the Poles of PiS, the Hungarians of Orban, the anti-Europeans of the German EFD... — to burst the Europe. In short, anything that could contribute to disuniting Europe is seen today with enjoyment and happiness across the Atlantic. It is a profound novelty.
The end of a friendship?
Not content with sowing discord, Donald Trump intends to sow trouble. He thus draws the line on two notable policies, negotiated jointly with the Europeans – the deal with Iran and the sanctions on Russia –, believing that they must be reviewed. Along the way, he blasts NATO with a deadly qualifier — “obsolete” — putting down everything that has made the reputation of the Atlantic Alliance up to now, its real power of deterrence. In short, in a few sentences, he sets up in the eyes of Europeans a doubt about the reliability of the American ally. It is a profound change. Is this the end of a long friendship? We will have to wait to verify it. But, for Europeans, it is a certain period of uncertainty.
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
Read also: NATO obsolete, the EU too German, Brexit a good thing… The Trump festival continues
