Writing for The Guardian, Nathalie Tocci complains of the lost "relationship" between America and Europe, and opines that there is no getting it back on track. She guesses Biden was the last US president to be a true Atlanticist.
By convincing herself the former relationship was one between equals, which it never was, she mourns the loss of that friendship. The truth about the last 80 years is quite unlike what she imagines it to have been
Before World War II several European nations were big-deal colonial powers with outposts around the globe. This was true of Britain, of course, but also of France, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, the Netherlands. Even little Denmark had some island colonies. As such, they expected to be treated as players in the world game.
During and after the war colonialism died and the former colonial powers had adjust to being minor players. Plus unlike the US, many had been destroyed to varying extents by the fighting. Since World War II ended, the US and Europe relationship has been much more similar to that of parent and children.
The US pampered the Europeans, protected them, bought their exports while they limited our ability to sell them goods and services, and generally acted like their indulgent parents. Like dependent children they had a free ride on our defense dollar and could spend their "tax earnings" on foolishly lavish welfare programs.
Like the 30 year old 'child' who still lives in his parents' basement, European societies never "grew up" to accept adult responsibilities. Along comes Trump 47 and metaphorically kicks them out of the house. Time to grow up and take on "adulting."
Forming the European Union was sort of the equivalent of a large family of children forming a union to balance the power of the 'parent' US. An alliance of weaklings ≠ strength; it didn't, doesn't, and probably can't work.
Adult relationships (other than marriage) between people or nations, are mostly transactional. We cooperate when it makes sense to do so, compete what that is better, and much of the time act in our own interests without paying overmuch attention to the welfare of others. We expect them to do likewise, pull up their sox and cope.
Perhaps if the European nations can accept full national responsibility for their outcomes, we may again be adult friends, without the dependency and resentments that breeds.
Heed the words of Lord Palmerston, PM of Britain in the mid-1800a.
It is a narrow policy to suppose that this country or that is to be marked out as the eternal ally or the perpetual enemy of England. We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow.
Substitute the US for England and that is a fair description of the Trump foreign policy, which he obviously didn't invent, but must admire.
