The U.S. and E.U. in North Africa: An Alliance of Convenience

Author Wang Honggang is the deputy director of the Institute for American Studies, which is part of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

North Africa’s changing situation was originally one involving internal shifts caused by social movements. As soon as foreign powers intervened, however, it quickly turned into a game of territorial chess. As actions aimed at removing Muammar Gaddafi from power were undertaking, the U.S. and Europe emerged as the two major players in this game of chess. The relationship between Europe and the U.S. has always been complicated—as the Gaddafi situation changes, which direction will the relationship between these two powers go?

The United States, France, England and other major European countries are in control of North Africa’s resources. There is significant common interest in promoting local democracy and defending Western power and prestige. Libya has considerable oil and natural gas reserves, and its economic and strategic value is clear. Although the surrounding region has experienced a “wave of democracy,” the wave has met a bottleneck in Libya due in large part to Gaddafi’s suppression of protesters. America and Europe are not able to sit idly by. Furthermore, as people around the world think that the Western world has gone downhill and non-Western countries rise, they do not want to miss this opportunity to show their teeth. These common interests and considerations are the most important factor behind their united action against Gaddafi.

These shared interests, however, cannot cover up deep geopolitical differences between the U.S. and Europe. North Africa is a crucial component to both America’s and Europe’s territorial strategy. Thus, the fundamental interest shared by both sides is actually fraught with competitive clamor. That is why their apparent “uniting of ranks” is not actually stable.

In America’s regional political plan, North Africa is a space in which to mold Europe’s development in the larger region. It is also the key site for establishing rules and regulations in order to prevent other nations from getting involved there. As the ‘global leader,’ America needs to be vigilant against all other major powers in the instance they have some hidden ambitions for elevating their status. Molding the developments of the border countries of these large powers is their ready response to this problem. To prevent the reemergence of Russia after the Cold War, America expanded NATO membership eastwards. They infiltrated the economies of surrounding nations and were heavily involved in the establishment of their political scenes. They used these tactics to exert pressure on Russia. The U.S., in order to fight terrorism, put large-scale military instillations in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Objectively speaking, we are also seeing South Asia being divided up as “America’s South Asia” and “India’s South Asia.” The U.S. has strongly encouraged India to take on a leadership role in East Asia. To prevent China and Japan from uniting the surrounding countries (thus creating a threat to the American presence in the region), the U.S. has taken a series of strategic maneuvers in the Asia-Pacific. As for the U.S.’s position on Latin America’s development, they also have a comprehensive, long-term plan to control the rise of newcomer Brazil by manipulating the development of its neighboring countries. As for America’s plan for the Middle East, it exercises even more influence on the major players in the area. For the same reason, even though Europe is America’s ally, its gradual expansion of power and increasing integration of its members is still something the U.S. needs to guard against. In fact, this task may be America’s most important. Libya, Tunisia, Egypt and other North Africa countries just happen to be the channels through which Europe enters the region. North Africa’s strategic importance in the American position towards Europe is evident.

From the European point of view, ever since World War II ended, they have been looking for new tactics to regain their influence. Britain, France and Germany, once great powers, are now on the decline as traditional industrial powers; they are fiercely seeking paths to revival. The establishment of the European Union embodies the efforts of these countries to unite in order to seek prosperity and reemerge as global players on the international stage. In order for European states to rise again, though, they must have a strong periphery to depend on. On the eastern side, Europe was successful with the help of the U.S. When the U.S. and Europe combined forces to face Russia, they also offhandedly accomplished their goal of expanding their spheres of influence eastward. On the southern side, Europe initiated the Barcelona Process of establishing partnerships between the E.U. and the Mediterranean basin. To expand its power further south, Europe’s tactic is to strengthen the relationships between all of North Africa’s neighbors. Europe’s management of North Africa and its permeation and transformation of the area is all aimed at finding a good launching pad for its revival. Africa is still a place not totally open to the outside world; if Europe can create a ‘backyard’ for itself there in this multi-polar world, it will truly establish a stable foundation upon which to restore itself economically and politically. This plan possesses great strategic significance.

Thus, in terms of their current common interest in pushing for a regime change in Libya, America and Europe are in the same boat. In the future, as soon as there is some change in the situation, conflicts between the two will flare up. In fact, we can easily imagine that if the U.S. eventually establishes a command center in Libya, this geopolitical development would cause the Euro-U.S.A. relationship to experience a seismic shift. Of course, the competition over North Africa is only one aspect in the alliance between these two powers. Naturally, they also work together to keep out any third parties from interfering in the region. Additionally, reflecting on the deep, global common interests that the two powers share and their habit of helping one another, we will most likely see a situation where they struggle but do not annihilate each other; one achieves primary status, the other maintains secondary status.