Europe, Take the Wheel

The administration in Washington is recasting Europe’s role in the world. For nearly seven decades, Europe has supported the liberal international order built and led by the United States. The United States under “America First,” however, is retreating from the mantle of global leadership. As a result, Europe will now have to assume more responsibility for protecting and advancing the ideals and institutions that made both sides of the Atlantic secure and prosperous. Europe can no longer afford to be a back-seat driver. It must instead take control of the wheel and step into a real leadership role. The potential and necessity are certainly there. It was only a few months ago when German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, “We Europeans truly have to take our fate into our own hands.” These remarks were in reaction to US President Donald Trump’s disastrous trip to Europe in May. The comments reflect a growing sense of uncertainty after years of a strong transatlantic relationship, anchored by America’s global hegemony. At the moment, this rhetoric merely states a sense of despondency. Moving forward, it must serve as a mantra for a more decisive Europe that leads globally. Nothing is truer in world politics than the old saying, “actions speak louder than words.” Europe has already shown a new sense of assertiveness. As the Trump administration casts doubt about the future of the Iran nuclear agreement, Europe has been eager to defend the hard-fought deal. In July, the European Union’s chief diplomat, Federica Mogherini, told the press, “The nuclear deal doesn’t belong to one country, it belongs to the international community,” adding “we have the responsibility to make sure that this continues to be implemented.” Similarly, after the United States announced its withdrawal from the Paris climate accord, European leaders promised to “swiftly implement” the deal without the United States. In these cases, Europe has shown that it is willing to defend its priorities in this new geopolitical reality. Europe played a critical role in negotiating these deals, but will now have to enforce them. Whereas the Trump administration has been critical of free trade agreements, multilateralism, and security alliances, Europe has become the unwavering defender of these bedrock pillars. The European Union is pursuing sizeable and ambitious free trade deals with Canada and Japan. These developments, as well as Europe’s promise to uphold major international agreements, show that Europe remains a committed multilaterialist in the age of “America First.” When it comes to collective security, Europe’s NATO member states have taken considerable steps to improve burden sharing amongst the alliance. Simultaneously, the European Union is investing in its own security and defense projects. These security initiatives prove that Europe remains steadfast when it comes to collective security, despite criticisms from Washington. Europe continues to uphold the values that the United States passionately defended for almost seven decades. Europe’s newfound voice and, hopefully, its decisive actions to follow will have an impact on the transatlantic relationship. Tensions and dilemmas between Europe and the United States will certainly persist as Washington’s “America First” foreign policy manufactured this current rift. Calls for Europe to take on this leadership role in world affairs are, therefore, not motivated by a deceitful desire to overthrow America’s hegemony, but rather by an obligation to preserve the liberal values and institutions that forged those transatlantic bonds in the first place. A more proactive Europe will defend the liberal values once shared across the Atlantic and now seemingly abandoned by the White House. There are several internal crises facing Europe that will make it difficult to assume a greater leadership role. The Brexit negotiations are not going well. Some countries in Europe, such as Hungary and Poland, are also pushing against the liberal international order. Only an integrated and united Europe can demand respect on the global stage and actively pursue its interests. Europe must prove to the world that it is not divided by these crises and that it is capable of decisive decision-making. It is time for Europe to step out of the supportive function and assert its own form of global leadership. In doing so, Europe will assume responsibility for promoting free trade, preserving multilateral agreements, and safeguarding collective security. It is not enough for Europe to just criticize “America First,” nor hope that Washington will change course anytime soon. Europe is now the liberal international order’s last line of defense. Chancellor Merkel’s prescription in May was not detailed, probably because recent global developments have everyone in a fog. The next few months will be critical for Europe, as the gap in the transatlantic relationship grows wider. It must continue to uphold its values and defend international systems, agreements, and institutions. The coming years will present the real challenge, as Europe will be expected to marry words to actions. About the author: Corey Cooper is a Europe Fellow at Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (YPFP). He is also a Research Associate in US Foreign Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations. Corey earned his BA in International Studies from American University. The views and opinions expressed in this piece are the author's own. Photo: Official White House Photo by Shealah Cragihead via Flickr (public domain).