Trump Tramples Alliances... Europe's Most 'Bleak Era' Helpless [One Month of Trump's Second Term]

As the US Threatens Europe with Indiscriminate Tariffs,
EU Retreats by Reducing Duties on Key Products
Europe Sidelined in Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks,
Losing Influence in Negotiations
Mounting Pressure to Increase Defense Spending,
Concerns Rise Over NATO's Weakening Cohesion

"Last week was the bleakest week in Europe since the collapse of the 'Iron Curtain.'

The British magazine The Economist diagnosed the current situation in Europe on the 20th (local time), warning that "the old European order needs a crash course on how to exercise strong power in a lawless era, and without this, the old order will be sacrificed to the disorder of the new world."

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As the US Threatens Tariff Bombs... Europe Pacifies the US by Reducing and Eliminating Tariffs on Key Items Such as Automobiles

Europe is shaking. Concerns about economic difficulties due to tariff increase pressures from US President Donald Trump, and the intensifying security threats to Europe amid the US-Russia honeymoon period, have amplified Europe's crisis as the White House leadership changes. To check the US and solidify Europe's status, a joint response plan on tariffs and security should be prepared, but even this is not easy. The emergency meeting held on the 17th in Paris, France, showed that European countries are closer to division than unity.

The current crisis Europe is experiencing started with President Trump. Since taking office, President Trump has announced reciprocal tariffs and singled out Europe, complaining that the European Union (EU) automobile tariff is 10%, four times higher than the US's 2.5%. He also pointed out Europe's relatively high value-added tax (VAT). He has also announced a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imported into the US starting next month.

Fearing tariff clashes, the EU announced on the 19th its intention to reduce and eliminate tariffs on key items including automobiles. This is quite different from the first term of the Trump administration when the US imposed 25% tariffs on steel and 10% on aluminum, and Europe retaliated with tariffs on American whiskey, jeans, and other products. This reflects the weakening of Europe's economic and political status compared to the pre-Trump administration period. Moreover, with the economic difficulties exacerbated by rising energy costs due to the Russia-Ukraine war, the addition of US tariff bombardment is seen as a move reflecting concerns that the economy could further regress.

US-Europe Alliance Retreats... Trump Overtly Pursues Pro-Russian Actions

President Trump's 'America First' foreign policy is also seriously threatening European security. The US, which had long pursued a strategy centered on containing and isolating Russia, has under the Trump administration abandoned existing policies and shown close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Despite dissatisfaction from NATO member countries, which are central to European security, being excluded from US-Russia negotiations on ending the Ukraine war, President Trump is pushing forward with pro-Russian actions. Some interpret the Trump administration's pro-Russian stance as an attempt by the US to seek new relations with Russia and Europe. This is also evident in the US opposition to including the term 'Russian aggression' in the G7 statement on the third anniversary of the Ukraine war and refusal to sign the draft UN resolution condemning Russia.

The long-standing alliance between the US and Europe is cracking. President Trump has repeatedly stated intentions to reduce US troops in Europe and cut contributions to NATO. The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 18th that Europe is forced to reconsider its long-standing close relationship with the US and contemplate standing alone, facing a difficult choice if President Trump is re-elected.

To resolve the security crisis, leaders of Western European countries such as France and Germany held an urgent meeting in Paris on the 17th, but it was criticized for causing division rather than solving problems. The Economist pointed out, "European leaders hastily met in Paris on February 17 but only succeeded in highlighting their differences," adding, "Three years after Russia's invasion, Europe has failed to sufficiently increase military spending and remains trapped in an outdated worldview of multilateral treaties and shared values."

The US-triggered controversy over increased defense spending has deepened debates between alliance proponents and advocates of self-reliance within Europe, weakening cohesion among European countries. On the 20th, the US government urged NATO member countries that do not spend 2% of their GDP on defense to meet this target by the NATO summit in June. As the US continues to demand increased defense spending, Europe is sharply divided between those advocating strengthening the NATO-centered alliance system and those pursuing strategic autonomy centered on the EU.

Victoria Coates, Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security and Foreign Policy at the US conservative think tank Heritage Foundation, said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), "President Trump is not abandoning the post-World War II order," arguing, "It is no longer the postwar era, and we must accept that the geopolitical landscape has changed."

John Bolton, who served as White House National Security Advisor during Trump's first term, pointed out, "President Trump is not a person with a consistent ideology to dismantle the global order," adding, "It's just one individual's view, but unfortunately, that person is the president."