The US Elections are over and the victory is resoundingly for Donald Trump. Europe leaders are nervous about what it would mean for Europe, NATO and the war in Ukraine. European Union, the largest regional bloc, still doesn’t speak in one voice. French President Emmanuel Macron has been leading the charge in forging an independent Europe. Since the end of World War 2, Europe has been tangled with the US in all the ways possible which has created an atmosphere of dependence on the US. One could even say U.S and Europe form the foundation of the Western-led international order and institutions including UN, IMF and World Bank.
With a coming Trump presidency and an increasingly isolationist American foreign policy that comes with Trump, it’s the best time for Europe to establish its own path in foreign policy and un-tangle itself from the US. The first Trump presidency exposed the strains of Europe’s relationship with the US in terms of trade, climate policy, international treaties etc. Even with the Biden administration’s more cooperative stance, the uncertainty about long-term US foreign policy predictability remains a concern for European policymakers. While France and Germany have pushed for greater autonomy, the EU’s reliance on US leadership has often constrained its ability to pursue independent diplomatic initiatives. It is time for Europe to ensure that it doesn’t fade into irrelevance.
All the views and opinions expressed are those of the author. Image Credit – Euro News.
About the Author
Lalitha S holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and Politics from the Central University of Kerala (CUK). She completed a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Political Science and Sociology from St. Joseph’s University. She was the Editor of CUK’s IR department’s newsletter named ‘CROSSROADS.’ She worked as research intern at Catalyst Management Services and Foreign Policy Research Centre. Her works have been published in Deccan Herald, Modern Diplomacy, and Taipei Times. She has cleared University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) for Assistant Professor in International Relations.
