The Guardian view on Trump and Europe: more an abusive relationship than an alliance | Editorial
In a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape, the Biden administration is perceived as aggressively attempting to reshape the dynamics of power among traditional U.S. allies, particularly in Europe. Recent meetings among key European leaders—Sir Keir Starmer of the UK, Emmanuel Macron of France, and Friedrich Merz of Germany—highlight the urgency with which these leaders are responding to the shifting priorities emanating from Washington. Their hasty gathering with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Downing Street underscores the pressure they face to unify and strategize against perceived U.S. attempts to impose a peace deal that favors both American and Russian interests rather than the sovereignty of Ukraine. This situation illustrates a growing concern that European security is being compromised by the whims of U.S. foreign policy, particularly as the Biden administration appears willing to leverage its influence to dictate terms that may not align with European priorities.
The summit in London aimed to bolster support for Ukraine by proposing the use of up to £100 billion in frozen Russian assets as collateral for a reparations loan, a move that could provide Ukraine with much-needed financial leverage in negotiations. This proposal reflects a significant shift in European strategy, moving beyond mere diplomatic discussions to concrete financial commitments that could empower Ukraine against Russian aggression. However, the leaders recognize that diplomatic improvisation alone is insufficient to counter the structural threats posed by the U.S. administration’s approach, particularly under the shadow of former President Donald Trump’s potential return to power. As European leaders grapple with these challenges, they must find ways to assert their interests more robustly and ensure that their voices are heard in the corridors of power in Washington. The stakes are high, and the future of European security may depend on their ability to navigate this complex geopolitical landscape effectively.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vio53jUpJz0
The White House is aggressively seeking to weaken and dominate the United States’ traditional allies. European leaders must learn to fight back.
Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz have become adept at scrambling to deal with the latest bad news from Washington. Their
meeting
with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Downing Street on Monday was so hastily arranged that Mr Macron needed to be back in Paris by late afternoon to meet Croatia’s prime minister, while Mr Merz was due on
television
for an end-of-year Q&A with the German public.
But diplomatic improvisation alone cannot fully answer Donald Trump’s structural threat to European security. The US president and his emissaries are trying to bully Mr Zelenskyy into an unjust peace deal that suits American and Russian interests. In response, the summit helped ramp up support for the use of up to £100bn in frozen Russian assets as collateral for a “
reparations loan
” to Ukraine. European counter-proposals for a ceasefire will need to be given the kind of financial backing that provides Mr Zelenskyy with leverage at a critical moment.
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