On the Beaches of Deauville

In the days of the Soviet Union, Gromyko and Ponomariov theorized about how to separate Europe from the United States, making the rich, illustrated and decadent old continent a part of Moscow’s orbit. Gorbachev kept the ideal of his predecessors at the head of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and tried to update it with the concept of the “common home”, the local version of “America for the Americans.” In Europe, we changed everything but the Yankees. Russia has broken with the Soviet strategy and continues to look to the bond, by which the United States continues to exert power as a source of reference in European affairs. Putin and Medvedev have reintroduced the old ideas, with relative success.

The strategic relationship between America and Europe is going through bad times. Without the Soviet threat, the element of cohesion has been lost. Today, the United States renounces its leadership, and the defeat in Afghanistan will have serious consequences on the Alliance and Europe itself. Behind the back of the European Union and NATO, France and Germany are trying to establish an understanding with Russia, through which Moscow agrees to a cordial relationship in exchange for investment — a privileged relationship at all levels — and presence in the Union. The beautiful and decadent beaches of Deauville, where illustrated French bourgeoisie have sought peace and quiet since the late nineteenth century, have been witness to the new evidence of the decadence of Old Europe, which looks, once again, for appeasement strategies that are not capable of defending its values and interests.

Any approach to Russia should go through Georgia and a statement of respect for the sovereignty of its neighbors. Otherwise, Deauville will be just another step on the road to Munich.