German Chancellor Scholz and French President Macron held a conference to discuss what a second Trump term could look like for Europe. Both countries' defense ministers are also set to hold talks.
Summary
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron held a call to discuss the potential implications of Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. presidency for Europe.
The leaders pledged to strengthen cooperation for a “more united, stronger, more sovereign Europe” in light of this possibility. Macron emphasized a commitment to European sovereignty while maintaining cooperation with the U.S. Additionally, German and French defense ministers plan to meet to coordinate on defense policies.
Trump’s ambiguous stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine and his critical view of NATO burden-sharing raise concerns in Europe about future U.S.-Europe relations.
I sincerely hope the European powers will overcome their internal politics and the rightward slide many of them seem to be on, and cooperate more closely for the world's sake. I want to be hopeful for the climate and humanity.
Hopefully Canada will stick with Europe rather than the US ideologically, but with how things are going here we seem farther along on our rightward slide.
Please embargo us. Make it clear that you will not work with a fascist state.
I want our economy to be in fucking ruins come 2026, when 20 Republican senators are up for reelection. If we take the house and a 2/3rds majority in the Senate and we can end this shit in January 2027.
But we need the anger and pain the Republicans have tapped into to fuel the fire to wipe the GOP from existence. And we need the Dems to stop playing fair. We need to go scorched-earth on these motherfuckers.
Honestly you sound like you are part of the problem with America if you would rather see your country ruined in some self-fulfilling prophecy just so that your political opponents will lose next election.
There is no way in which the US will be embargod. Even under trump european nations will try to keep a mostly beneficial relation with the US due to the economic reliability and US strength in global politics. Sorry bud!
Close Cooperation with eachother. The USA can no longer be seen as a reliable partner with its wild ideological swings and a lack of strong commitment to the cause.
Make or break for a strong European State.
From a UK perspective we're absolutely fucked due to Brexit. USA is unreliable, detached from the EU, what's left? BRICS? Lol.
There will be lots of winded and inspired speeches. Nothing will happen, Europe will stay divided while each country seeks advantages on its own for petty short term gains. The populists will continue to gain footholds, and to conquer lands.
Maybe they need it, but that may not be happening. Over the past decade, Europe has been moving decisively to the right, just like the US is doing, which means less internal European cooperation and a further move toward sovereign nation states. The EU will maybe be able to maintain the overall trade cooperation among countries, but there's very little chance of further European integration in other policy areas as it stands. Even the Schengen open-border cooperation is hanging by a thread.
Realistically, I doubt the western european public opinions are ready to accept 20 year old kids coming home in a coffin. If we put boots on the ground, I expect the war to be more deadly than recent middle-east operations.
So while we could kick of Russia ass, I don't think we're ready to pay the political price, at least for Ukraine.
Ironically I think policy support would have been much easier had we put boots on the ground right away. There was initially enormous support for Ukraine, and sending out own soldiers would have given voters a continued vested interest in the war.
Not saying the outcome would have been better, and there is always the threat of nuclear war. However, it would totally changed the course and focus of elections, and my impression is that voters like it when politicians take risks, even if it doesn’t pan out (and even if it’s suicidally stupid).
Western Europe, yep, there's not much appetite for that. Southern, neither, Northern, I wouldn't count them out, Baltics will look to the North, Central (without Germany)... basically the only reason Poland didn't put boots on the ground yet is NATO.
The French might get involved for dignity's sake, but on a backfoot -- special forces, long-range operations. Also sending French MREs is always a good idea.
EDIT: Oh, Italy. Meloni hates Putin's guts, the FDI may go in even without appetite because well the "post" in "post-fascist" doesn't mean that they've got rid of fascists' admiration for war, just the more obvious self-defeating aspects. Struggles of national sovereignty seem to be right up their alley. Greece is too broke either way and Turkey will be on Turkey's side.
That's not entirely correct. While the US is without a doubt the biggest part of (and contributor to) NATO, it consists of a few other nations as well. But you are absolutely right that Europe needs to get their shit together because it is very likely that the US will scale down their NATO involvement
Trump’s ambiguous stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine and his critical view of NATO burden-sharing raise concerns in Europe about future U.S.-Europe relations.
Absolutely nothing ambiguous about it. Everyone knows where he stands. Exactly where every lapdog stands, behind and slightly off to the side of their master.....
I strongly suspect that isn't true. I think anti-Trump people know where he stands, but I bet a lot of pro-Trump people are about to be in for a big surprise.
He'll start buying russian natural resources at a dollar on the dime and gas prices will drop a little bit and all the dumb idiots that voted for him will drool and smile because "ooga booga feels good" while he pulls out of nato and the world marches towards WWIII
Some did. Then most were happy to go back to sleep as Biden won in 2020. Trump was ignorantly considered a hiccup instead of the expression of a deeper issue with the US.
As the election today showed so did the US Democrats think things could just continue in the same way. And here we are again.
Well that's one good thing to come from the election. Best case scenario America just fucks itself over (and not the rest of the world) while giving all of the EU a common enemy to help further strengthen the bonds.
The bonds are deteriorating beyond repair. This won't be enough. Trump win will embolden the rising far right in EU countries. There's no good thing, I'm afraid. Sorry for my pessimism.
I don't think you understand. The faction taking over won't stop with the US. They want unfettered power. They're well aware American military might exceeds the rest of the world combined by tenfold and will eventually use it to intimidate or destroy anyone in their way, after subjugating our own citizenry of course.