to #trumpvSEurope
#Opinion
#NYT
#2021
#March
#Politics
#International
A recent op-ed in the New York Times, written by former senior editor at Bloomberg View, Leonid Bershidsky, sheds light on the current relationship between President Trump and Europe, citing key reasons for the current conflict between the two entities.
Bershidsky referenced a Time magazine cover that hailed Trump as “leader of the free world.” The commentary expressed a tone of disbelief, while also considering the current commander-in-chief’s confrontational approach to foreign policy. Bershidsky argues that Europe feels threatened by Trump’s “America first” doctrine, noting that the “return of a big-power rival, this time to Europe’s east, has further worried the continent.”
Europe, unlike America, has an abiding interest in quieting the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. For that reason, the EU encourages dialogue between Moscow and Kiev, as well as maintaining economic sanctions against Russia following its annexation of Crimea. Trump, on the other hand, has shown interest in re-establishing friendly relations with Russia. Moreover, he has dismissed serious concerns related to election interference and expressed criticisms of NATO, causing a significant rift between the US and Europe.
Bershidsky firmly believes that there is no reconciliation between the two perspectives on this issue. While America may see relations with Russia as a more reasonable and rational approach, given that Trump comes from the business world and runs a company that sells products to Russia, the EU is “determined to defend itself with sanctions” in response to Russia’s destabilizing activity.
The author ends by suggesting that Trump’s policies have brought Europe to a difficult crossroads. The question for Europe is how far they are willing to go in adapting to the “new normal” or taking a stand for their values. Overall, it appears that there will be no convergence between European and Trump’s policies in the near future, raising concerns for the relationship’s long-term viability.
In conclusion, the article highlights the numerous discrepancies between Trump’s foreign policy tactics and those of the EU. Trump’s pivot towards Russia, coupled with his attempts to establish a “deal-oriented approach to relations with other countries,” have led to a break between Europe and America, leaving Europe at a crucial juncture. While the EU has shown its commitment to pursuing dialogue with Russia, the US’s disillusionment with various foreign policies has generated significant rifts between the two, with both parties at odds in finding any type of resolution for the time being.
Leave a Reply