N. Peter Kramer’s Weekly Column
The US President scrapped the promised tariffs on European countries, arguing that he had outlined the framework for a future agreement regarding the world’s largest island. What happened was that Rutte focused on the material questions surrounding Greenland. For him it was not the emotional reactions of EU leaders that should be central , but the military issues. The real security issue can not be solved by annexation. Rutte found another feasible way: stationing more Americans on Greenland , supported by more European NATO-troops.
Trump’s behaviour is shocking the Europeans, indeed. Americans have rarely expressed criticism of the political and cultural relations in Europe. But Europeans, on the other hand, regularly explicitly criticised the US and its presidents. Ronald Reagan, Bush Sr and his son were presidents who came under heavy fire in Europe. Now Trump is doing the same with Europe.
A positive result of Trump’s quite rude performance is, that Europe is now beginning to take responsibility for its own security. EU Foreign Policy head Kaja Kallas’ idea is, that NATO needs to become more European to maintain it strength. But it will take a very long time. May be better to take temporarily serious what Mark Rutte recently said dismissing talks of European ‘strategic autonomy’: ‘If anyone thinks ... Europe can defend itself without the US, keep on dreaming”.
