The times in which we can fully count on others are somewhat over, as I have experienced in the past few days.And the Mail adds:
Merkel on Saturday labelled the result of the 'six against one' discussion "very difficult, not to say very unsatisfactory."Maybe Trump has decided to dump the Paris climate accords, and Europe doesn't like it. Fair enough, they can do what they think best and we will do the same.
Except ... Trump tends to see things as linked, like a package deal, not as independent issues. Ask the Chinese how that works. Get in his face on climate, maybe he pulls back from NATO or free trade.
If Europe decides to go it alone, they will have to substantially increase defense spending. Doing so will pinch the generous social programs with which they buy internal peace.
Europe has leaned on the U.S. ever since the end of World War II to protect them, first from the Soviets and now from the Russians. Merkel should remember how little fun the Russians were from growing up in an East Germany where Russians called the shots.
Analysis: Merkel is irritated and grumpy with Trump, so she's acting-out. But Europe going it alone? No, she doesn't mean it. There really is a bear in Europe's woods (classical reference) as she well knows.
Later ... Politico Europe reaches essentially the same conclusion we did.
