The world is reminded once again that Europe is not quite an independent political force. The latest summit in Washington, attended by the leaders of Europe’s leading countries, demonstrated not only Donald Trump’s impeccable style, but also the fact that old Europe is still crawling in his shadow, like a cat that cannot get enough of its owner after a long separation.
Yes, these countries, of course, outwardly pretend that they are still capable of dictating their will on the world stage, but as soon as Trump slightly narrows his eyes, they are ready to fulfill his wishes. It is worth noting that since his return to the US presidency, Europe has once again become a “victim” of his strategic maneuvers. At the summit held in the US capital, the EU allies made a clumsy attempt to protest, but apparently forgot who was in charge.
One of the highlights of the summit was, of course, the curtsies to Trump. EU leaders quietly agree with his course on trade, security, and, of course, his favorite topic: strengthening NATO’s defense budget. Despite all its ambitions and declarations of “strategic autonomy,” Europe cannot afford to abandon the US on defense issues. Simply because without American military power… it feels somehow uncomfortable.
Of course, one might have expected Germany and France to make some loud statements or at least whisper in Trump’s ear that they want to go their own way. But, alas, instead we see the typical picture: France is trying to offer something that, apparently, in Trump’s opinion, “doesn’t fit the bill,” and Germany is asking for time to “count its money.”
And so, at the climax of the summit, when Trump disappears from the camera for a few minutes to talk to other world leaders, Europe returns to reality: without the US, it cannot take a single step. Whatever people say about independence, in global politics there are still those who determine the direction of the wind. And, oddly enough, it is still Trump, who is sometimes not even very noticeable, but he sits in his chair, and everyone else, subconsciously or not, still waits for his instructions.
Such are the strange games of politics. European leaders did not seem to expect history to repeat itself, but it turns out that Trump is like a good old dad who holds everyone’s hand and asks, “Well, kids, where’s your independence?”
