The EU Wants To Win Over Trump
With pragmatic politics, Europe’s governments would like to bring the future U.S. president to their side, end the war in Ukraine, and rehabilitate the economy.
The top priority for the European Union and its member states was obvious from reading the daily agenda for the EU summit. First, the war in Ukraine. Second, how to deal with U.S. President Donald Trump in 2025. Third, the government collapse in Syria and all its consequences for Middle Eastern policy and immigration.
The problem is that Trump has very different priorities. First, the U.S. Second, the U.S. Third, the rest of the world. So, future relations with Washington after Joe Biden are causing the worst headaches for the 27 heads of state. The U.S. is not only the most important ally when it comes to security. It is also the most important economically.
Too Weak on Their Own
Thus, Trump‘s course and trans-Atlantic cooperation will be decisive in determining whether Europe can maintain the prosperity, democracy and security it has known for decades. China has mutated from a partner to an opponent. Russia is openly and brutally seeking conflict. Global trade is becoming more uncomfortable.
On European territory, the EU partners are too weak to stop Russia‘s war against Ukraine on their own. For that reason, a very simple strategy was the subject of discussion at the EU summit. The EU partners in no way want to engage Trump in confrontation; instead, they want to win him over pragmatically to reach shared solutions — to the extent possible. A smart idea. Some are even secretly hoping that Trump could get Putin to agree to a cease-fire.
The top priority for the European Union and its member states was obvious from reading the daily agenda for the EU summit. First, the war in Ukraine. Second, how to deal with U.S. President Donald Trump in 2025. Third, the government collapse in Syria and all its consequences for Middle Eastern policy and immigration.
The problem is that Trump has very different priorities. First, the U.S. Second, the U.S. Third, the rest of the world. So, future relations with Washington after Joe Biden are causing the worst headaches for the 27 heads of state. The U.S. is not only the most important ally when it comes to security. It is also the most important economically.
Too Weak on Their Own
Thus, Trump‘s course and trans-Atlantic cooperation will be decisive in determining whether Europe can maintain the prosperity, democracy and security it has known for decades. China has mutated from a partner to an opponent. Russia is openly and brutally seeking conflict. Global trade is becoming more uncomfortable.
On European territory, the EU partners are too weak to stop Russia‘s war against Ukraine on their own. For that reason, a very simple strategy was the subject of discussion at the EU summit. The EU partners in no way want to engage Trump in confrontation; instead, they want to win him over pragmatically to reach shared solutions — to the extent possible. A smart idea. Some are even secretly hoping that Trump could get Putin to agree to a cease-fire.
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