A “dark day” for the European Union, a “submission” to U.S. tariff demands, according to France’s prime minister. Some have seen the handshake between President Trump and EU Commission leader Ursula von der Leyen as a sign of submission.
Moreover, trade isn’t the only area in which Europe is highly reliant on the US.
In a move reminiscent of Trump, Von der Leyen raved over the weekend about the agreement she supported, which would increase U.S. tariffs on most European exports to 15% from the existing level of 10%. She called it “huge.” The agreement is the “biggest trade deal ever,” according to her staff’s texts to reporters, who are stating their belief in the text as it begins to into force on Friday.
A month following NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s attempt to win Trump over by calling him “daddy,” the Europeans once again admitted that it’s better to eat the expenses and praise an unpredictable president than to risk losing America.
It’s about more than just the deal. The issue is one of safety. Ukraine is the subject. It concerns the present state of geopolitical instability. “I am unable to divulge every detail,” stated Maroš Šefčovič, the EU Trade Commissioner, at a Monday press conference.
He emphasized, “I can assure you it was not only about the trade,” the day after “the deal” was finalized in an hour-long meeting following Trump’s round of golf with his son at the Scottish club he owns.
The situation of Europe’s reliance on foreign security
Indeed, the safety of Europe is dependent on the United States, and this is no laughing matter, particularly in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. If President Vladimir Putin were to win, U.S. allies believe he would target one of them next.
European nations are purchasing U.S. armaments to assist Ukraine in its defense, since these worries are deemed to be quite strong. Some countries are ready to replace American air defense systems with their own once they are delivered.
“We’re going to be sending military equipment and other equipment to NATO, and they’ll be doing what they want, but I guess it’s for the most part working with Ukraine,” Trump said Sunday, seeming contradictory over America’s position in the alliance.
Another source of concern for the Europeans is the impending announcement of a U.S. military reduction by the Pentagon in October. The deterrent impact of NATO against an opponent like Russia is guaranteed by the approximately 84,000 U.S. forces stationed in Europe.
Meanwhile, Trump is imposing tariffs on NATO allies in the United States, supposedly out of concern for American security interests, but this line of reasoning seems ridiculous from across the Atlantic.
Limiting Europe’s reliance on foreign suppliers
The European Union is facing a precarious position due to its heavy reliance on the United States for security, according to Niclas Poitiers of the Bruegel research institute in Brussels. “Ukraine accounts for a significant portion of that, but NATO generally underwrites our defense as well.”
Regarding the main reasons why von der Leyen agreed to the tariff requests, Poitiers told The Associated Press, “I think there was not a big willingness to pick a major fight, which is the one (the EU) might have needed with the U.S.” to improve its trading position.
Oil and gas from the United States are to be purchased as part of the deal. While the majority of the European Union has reduced its reliance on Russia’s unstable energy supply throughout the four-year conflict between the two countries, Slovakia and Hungary have not done so.
We can help ensure Europe’s energy security by purchasing energy goods from the United States, which will diversify our supply sources. “Instead of Russian gas and oil, we will buy a lot of U.S. LNG, oil, and nuclear fuels,” von der Leyen announced on Sunday in Scotland.
Essentially, Europe is attempting to wean itself off Russian energy while simultaneously fighting to reduce its need on the US for security. The Trump administration has made it clear that other regions, including Asia, the Middle East, and even its own borders, are now its top focus.
This is why, at last month’s NATO summit, European partners committed to increasing defense spending by hundreds of billions of euros over the next decade. For the sake of their own safety and to ensure that the United States remains one of its allies.
There were moments when the diplomacy lacked elegance.
In a private text message to Trump, Rutte wrote, “Europe is going to pay in a BIG way, as they should, and it will be your win.” The U.S. leader then shared the message on social media.
Trump airing it may have embarrassed or embarrassed Rutte, but she dismissed the concerns by adding, “I have absolutely no trouble or problem with that because there’s nothing in it which had to stay secret.”
Europe sees this cost as inevitable
During her encounter with Trump, von der Leyen did not come off as ostentatious. Frequently, she would either smile courteously or gaze at the floor. She refrained from challenging Trump’s claim that the United States is the sole donor of aid to Gaza. As far as help to the Palestinians is concerned, the European Union is unrivaled.
The possibility of a full-blown trade fight as Europe’s worst war in decades rages, along with Trump’s 30% tariff threat (whether genuine or just brinksmanship), makes 15% seem like a little price to pay.
“It will have a negative effect on the EU economy as a whole,” Poitiers said. “However, it pales in comparison to the energy crisis that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or even the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“This will have a negative impact on our economy, but we can handle it,” he assured.
The duration of this entente is yet uncertain.