Trump's 'Gaza Plan'... European Allies Break Silence "Honeymoon Over"

On the 8th (local time), the US CNN reported that the so-called 'Gaza Strip plan' by US President Donald Trump is bringing an end to the 'global honeymoon' with European allies. Until now, the honeymoon had been maintained, but the silence of the European allies is breaking with this plan to relocate Gaza Strip residents.

According to the report, after President Trump's announcement of the Gaza Strip plan, European allies have expressed opposition one after another, albeit with slightly different tones. France warned that Trump's Gaza Strip plan would "seriously violate international law," and the Spanish Foreign Minister stated, "The land of the Gaza people is Gaza." German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the proposal is "unacceptable," and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned that if President Trump's plan materializes, it would "bring more pain and hatred."

Trump's Gaza Strip plan completely overturns the solution of peaceful coexistence of Israel and Palestine as independent states, the so-called 'two-state solution.' The West has presented the two-state solution as the answer to the Israel-Palestine issue for decades.

CNN assessed this trend by stating, "In many ways, Trump's global honeymoon appears to be over." CNN said, "(In the two weeks after President Trump's inauguration) America's friends remained silent. President Trump enjoyed the warm words from European and Anglo-American leaders, and there was little criticism," adding, "But that consensus never lasted long. It shattered after Trump proposed the most provocative diplomatic idea of placing Gaza under American control."

John Alterman, head of Middle East affairs at the Washington-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said Europe was all taken aback and predicted, "Europe will engage in much deeper exploration of how to relate to a much more self-centered and less committed-to-multilateralism America."

However, the difficulty of confronting Trump poses considerable concerns for European allies. For example, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Labour government desire a positive relationship with the Trump administration. Recently, Foreign Secretary David Lammy even stated, "Trump is right on the Gaza issue." A Labour Party member told CNN that although they were appalled by President Trump's Gaza plan, there are too many issues at stake, such as ceasefire and trade, to openly criticize Trump.

Nonetheless, some argue that even if President Trump's foreign policy is an idea to break the 'stalemate,' without the support of allies, the US risks isolation in the international community and a vacuum in international leadership. Alterman predicted, "Many countries will feel the need for different relations with Russia and China," adding, "Partly to avoid dependence on the US, and partly because they see no moral benefit in maintaining close ties with the US."

In particular, concerns have been raised that President Trump's moves to withdraw from major international organizations, including the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), and to dismantle the International Development Agency (USAID), the government's foreign aid agency, increase the risk of 'American isolation.' Eric Nelson, who served as ambassador to Bosnia during Trump's first term, emphasized, "He is confusing USAID with a charity organization," and said, "Americans are among the most generous people in the world, but strategic investment is an important way we support our friends and expand our influence."