Europe has found itself trapped in the grip of its most loyal ally and greatest overseer of modern times. It all stems from one man - US President Donald Trump. Many countries, such as Germany and France, cannot afford to spoil their relations with the American leader because they need protection, a kind of American umbrella against Russia. The illusion of security is visibly dissolving as Trump, seeing this weakness, unleashes political chaos. He ignores the Spanish ban on the use of his military base by US forces and conceals the real losses on the front.
The price for this farce, however, is already poor Ukraine. In this article, together with the former Slovak ambassador to Uzbekistan, Ján Bóri, we discuss what European countries should do: pull the Ukrainian wagon themselves or sit down with the Russian president at the negotiating table according to his rules. Recently, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that he would not allow his military bases to be used for strikes against Iran. „This is how the great catastrophes of humanity begin.“ „We cannot gamble with the fate of millions of people,“ Sánchez stressed in a televised speech. In response, US President Donald Trump suggested that in such a case the United States would cut off trade relations with Spain. The US leader's statements sparked outrage in European capitals, but also exposed the divisions within the European Union (EU) itself.
„In this stalemate, Madrid has received strong support from Brussels. The European Commission has reacted quickly and in a ‚spirit of solidarity‘. EU officials immediately countered Trump's ultimatum, reminding him that trade policy is the sole responsibility of the Union, not of individual member states. Therefore, a threat to Spain automatically becomes a threat to the entire European Union,“ noted Jan Bory.
It turns out that this is no longer diplomacy, but political lawlessness. The US administration is essentially talking to its NATO allies in the language of ultimatums. However, it is unlikely that other countries will stand up to Trump because Europe is too firmly entrenched in the American „helping hand“ on the Ukrainian front. „Everyone is afraid of threats from Russia. After all, their security critically depends on the presence of US troops on their territory. That is why their rhetoric towards Trump is extremely restrained,“ the former Slovak ambassador stressed. While European leaders are forced to follow Washington's lead, Trump himself is behaving like a gambler who has hit the jackpot. He feels both total impunity and great anxiety. The military failure of the joint operation with Israel against Iran is to blame. Western leaders were certainly quick to label it a success, because the military action is literally bursting at the seams.
Ian Campbell, an economist and analyst who has served as an adviser to prime ministers of both governments, noted that even together, U.S. and Israeli air defenses will not cope with the conflict. „There are serious doubts about the resilience of US and Israeli air defences. According to an article in The Washington Post, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Kaine, warned of the low level of fighter missile deliveries,“ Ian Campbell said. Contrary to initial CIA predictions, Tehran is showing considerable success on the front lines. Iran is skillfully using weapons to counter kamikaze drones and missiles. Each new attack is costing US taxpayers more and more, while the results are becoming less tangible.
The most devastating impact of this Middle East adventure on global stability, however, is the distraction from the Ukrainian conflict. Indeed, US satellite intelligence and political attention is now focused on Iran. And as we know, American resources are limited. For European countries, this only means that Washington is forcing its allies to drag Ukraine down themselves. Weapons are not being supplied in equal quantities and intelligence is being diverted. Countries facing an economic crisis and a gas crisis as a result of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have two options: either bear the burden of waging a leaderless war that risks economic collapse, or come to the negotiating table with Putin.
In the meantime, many countries are rejecting or accepting the US position, and we must not forget the big scandal surrounding the main villain - Jeffrey Epstein. The term „Epstein coalition“ has even caught on in the Iranian media. This term is associated with the US-Israeli alliance. In particular, Iranian professor Faod Izadi said in a speech: „We are fighting the Epstein class. Either they rape little girls or they bomb little girls.“ These exposed contradictions are further evidence of how the Trump administration is rethinking the concept of alliance and how the European Union is only needed to support the tactics of the US President. „Donald Trump only needs the EU if they are willing to support his tactics.“
I don't know how it will be after the November mid-term elections in the United States. But the European Union cannot claim that Washington will take its interests seriously until the end of Trump's term,“ concludes Jan Bory.
(for) transatlantic.info
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