Has America Lost Europe?
Because my current residence is in Italy, I often watch internationally oriented news broadcasts produced in Europe. There may only be a few democratically minded European Union leaders who do not despair over the continuing absurd, nonsensical, self-serving, and ultimately hazardous decisions made by Mr. Trump.
Most seem to consider the man clownish—but clowns are supposed to be funny and not dangerous. From their perspective, this president lacks capability, capacity, and focus, while possessing no diplomatic skills, and recently appears to be of diminished cognitive ability, as well. During the first Trump Administration, the British writer Nate White put the matter this way: “He has no class, no charm, no coolness, no credibility, no compassion, no wit, no warmth, no wisdom, no subtlety, no sensitivity, no self-awareness, no humility, no honor and no grace…” This situation clearly has not improved over time.
All of which results in something I never thought I would see in my lifetime. Today, America is often reviled in Europe.
Mr. Trump appears to have only a passing acquaintance with the truth, ignores proven science and condemns media representatives who have the temerity to ask questions concerning a plethora of wide ranging nonfactual and fanciful executive pronouncements. European leaders tend to tolerate him because of his inheritance of the twin cudgels of a large and effective military force, while representing a major trading partner. However, his illegal tariffs compelled Europe to look elsewhere for trading partners they can trust. Because of this president, America no longer fits that description. Europeans are asking the same question repeatedly: “After his first administration, why did Americans vote him in for a second?”
There was a time when America pursued the goal of attempting to become better than the sum of its disparate parts, no matter who was in office. Sadly, the administration has shoved the nation off that pedestal and the leadership of the European Union looks on in muted horror as Mr. Trump veers from one disastrous call to the next, while blaming everyone but himself. The current unnecessary war of choice with Iran is merely the latest in a series of horrible decisions. Unfortunately, his only regular supporters in the international community are right-wing tyrants, now one less with the electoral defeat of Viktor Orban in Hungary. While support for leaders such as these may have been in U.S. foreign policy interests to contain Communism in the distant past, what is America’s excuse now? I’m ashamed to say there isn’t one.
Russia is a special case. Vladimir Putin no doubt appreciates the current White House resident; his intelligence services were found to have meddled in the election that put the multiple-bankrupt real estate mogul in the Oval Office the first time. Surely the Kremlin must see Mr. Trump as a “useful idiot.” Mr. Trump’s unconditional support of a corrupt Kremlin over the illegal war in Ukraine appears to be one of his very few consistent foreign policy positions. Otherwise, the confusion and incompetence that follows Air Force One wherever it flies these days, most recently the diplomatic debacle in China, provides some inkling of Moscow’s success in bringing America low.
There was a time when America stood for something positive around the globe beyond self-interest. Europe most appreciated this fact. Despite our nation’s missteps, the cornerstones of U.S. foreign policy used to be spreading democracy and free enterprise, while focusing on matters of international justice and human rights, even if the latter issues were sometimes given mere lip service. Tragically, those heady days have vanished. What made America truly great could always be found in its foundational instruments, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Because of the honorable and universal aspirations found within these keystone documents, Europeans formerly embraced the U.S. as the “leader of the free world.” From their perspective, this president has discarded that long-standing, hard-won, and honorable appellation with an “America First” doctrine, which is wholly transactional, utterly corrupt, and thoroughly authoritarian.
The bottom line: Europeans do not trust Mr. Trump. Where there is no trust, there is nothing but naked self-interest and personal gain. Is this what our country stands for now? If so, it is no surprise that today America is often vilified in Europe.
Robert Bruce Adolph , a qualified Military Strategist,is a retired senior US Army Special Forces soldier. He holds graduate degrees in both National Security Studies & International Affairs and was formally trained as a counterintelligence special agent. Robert also taught university level courses in American Government, US History, and World Politics. Following his retirement from the active military, he joined the UN, subsequently seeing service in Sierra Leone, Yemen, Iraq, Egypt, Israel/Palestine, Indonesia and more, culminating in the role of Chief of the Middle East and North Africa at UN Headquarters in New York. He is the author of “Surviving the United Nations,” now out in a second edition. He is a member of The Steady State.
Founded in 2016, The Steady State is a nonprofit 501(c)(4) organization of more than 400 former senior national security professionals. Our membership includes former officials from the CIA, FBI, Department of State, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security. Drawing on deep expertise across national security disciplines, including intelligence, diplomacy, military affairs, and law, we advocate for constitutional democracy, the rule of law, and the preservation of America’s national security institutions.
Powered by WPeMatico