• Home
• /
• Opinion

Europe forging new unity after Trump's America first

The latest blow came when the president of the United States retweeted videos from the far-right group Britain First.

The so-called "special relationship" sure isn't special these days. Largely forged by Roosevelt and Churchill during WWII, it was the closest bond between two countries in the Western world. The friendship between the United States and United Kingdom even survived the traitorous Kim Philby spy scandal of the early '60s, as illustrated by the closeness of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, and the surprising bromance of George W. Bush and Tony Blair.
But the Trump administration has done what Philby couldn't. Today the former friendship is in a shambles. The latest blow came when the president of the United States retweeted videos from the far-right group Britain First.
In response British Prime Minister Theresa May rebuked Trump, saying: "I am very clear that retweeting from Britain First was the wrong thing to do." But for many in the UK her message was another example of British understatement. During an emergency debate in the parliament that followed, MPs from all parties went much further, some questioning whether he should be even be accorded a state visit as planned next year.
Then there is Europe itself. Some might wonder if Trump's mission is not to "make America great again", as his campaign slogan said, but rather Germany and France. In an annual poll, Germany supplanted the US in the top spot as the country with the best international image. As the year drew to a close, French President Emmanuel Macron hosted a summit on fighting climate change that drew top business and political leaders from across the world - including heavy hitters from the US such as Bill Gates, Michael Bloomberg and Elon Musk. The US president, who seems to enjoy ripping up agreements, did the same with the Paris Climate accord signed last year, so he was not even invited to the latest meeting, an unthinkable snub in times past.
As storm clouds continued to swirl around the embattled Trump, France's youthful new president basked in glory. Macron, who took power last May, said he organised the summit "to show that we can deliver even without the US federal government". And the word "federal" itself has significance. California Governor Jerry Brown has vowed that the most wealthy and populous US state would fight Trump's climate policies. In many ways, it appears California is now allied with Europe.
After less than a year in office, the checklist of wreckage wreaked by Trump on longstanding European relationships is already long.
Following a Nato summit that was Trump's first diplomatic foray to Europe, German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared Europe's ability to rely on the US was "over to a certain extent".
Europe "really must take our fate into our own hands", Merkel added.
Then at a G7 summit in Sicily shortly after, the final communique from the group of leaders carried an unusual admission: They failed to bridge differences with Trump over climate change and the US was unable to join other countries in the final statement. Photos of Trump riding in a golf cart while all other leaders walked a short distance seemed to encapsulate the gulf. Ongoing now are continued statements from the EU's top diplomat over commitment to the arduously negotiated Iran nuclear agreement. In a stern warning, Federica Mogherini said the agreement could not be reopened for negotiation or changed as Trump has vowed to do.
"Renegotiating part of the agreement or the entire agreement is not an option," said Mogherini, who serves as the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy.
Indeed she has been busy lately reminding the EU's erstwhile ally across the Atlantic about mature foreign policy. In another unsettling action, the Trump administration announced it would move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, in effect supporting Israel's bid to take full control of the ancient city.
So Mogherini next had to express "serious concern" at another Trump decision. "The aspirations of both (Israelis and Palestinians) must be fulfilled and a way must be found through negotiations to resolve the status of Jerusalem as the future capital of both states," she said.
Then there is international trade. Following Trump's abandonment of the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement negotiated by the administration of then-President Barack Obama, the EU moved swiftly to ink a revised free trade agreement with Japan. The EU has now concluded 30 free trade agreements with other countries, while 43 are provisionally in force and 20 are under negotiation.
Bewildering to many, Trump's alienation of former allies is seen by some as an opportunity. Franco Venturini, columnist for Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper, wrote that it is "Trump's gift to Europe".
 "Isn't the White House's CEO, with the unfortunate relapses of his 'America first' policies, finally putting Europe in front of the mirror of history by forcing it to become an adult?" asks Venturini.
Ironic indeed coming from Europe. Sometimes viewed as an egregious talking shop for theorists, the EU parliament and its measured approach is for the time being the steady anchor of sensible Western policies.
Many wonder how long Trump and his onslaught will survive, but for now it appears to be Europe first.
Jon Van Housen and Mariella Radaelli are editors at the Luminosity Italia news agency in Milan