The relationship between Europe and the US is undoubtedly in turmoil, which makes French President Emmanuel Macron’s efforts to maintain cohesion during his visit to the White House on Monday noteworthy.
He achieved this by complimenting, flattering, and tactfully persuading the US president during their discussions in the Oval Office and at a joint press conference. Many global leaders are now adopting this approach, seeing it as more effective than blunt criticism of Trump.
Macron skillfully navigated what could have been a challenging day in Washington without making significant concessions or exposing too much.
He emphasized the mutual desire for peace between the two nations and, while softly challenging one of Trump’s assertions regarding Europe’s commitment to Ukraine, he also concurred that Europe must take greater responsibility for its own security.
However, he did offer a notable concession, acknowledging that Trump was justified in seeking to re-establish some form of dialogue with Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
This stance sharply contrasts with the previous approach of London, Paris, and Berlin, which had focused on isolating Putin and implementing sanctions against Russian entities.
Macron stated, “There is good reason for President Trump to re-engage with President Putin,” adding that the new administration indicates “a big change.”
Macron suggested that countries like France and the UK could take a leading role in ensuring the security of a post-truce Ukraine, potentially through air support and forces stationed away from the frontline.
Nevertheless, he highlighted the necessity of having American support.
However, Macron did not secure any assurance of US support from his Oval Office meeting. If he expected any criticism of the Russian president from Trump, he did not receive it either.
What he did gain was, at least to some extent, a return of Europe’s voice to the negotiation table, which he and other European leaders will find encouraging.
It is clear, however, that there are no plans to rekindle the strong relationship that Europe and the US enjoyed since World War Two.
This is why Macron has been contemplating a more strategically independent Europe for some time, considering the formation of combined European defense forces.
His belief that Europe must adapt to the significant shift in the US stance is echoed by Friedrich Merz, who is set to become Germany’s next chancellor.
Merz has already expressed that he feels the US under Donald Trump is apathetic regarding Europe’s well-being, and that the continent should strive for independence from the US in security matters.
“My primary objective will be to fortify Europe as swiftly as possible so that we can gradually achieve independence from the USA,” Merz stated.
However, France, the UK, and Germany must also acknowledge that not all European nations share a hostile perspective towards US policies on Ukraine.
The rise of far-right nationalist parties across Europe, particularly in Germany where the AfD secured second place in recent elections, indicates a growing skepticism among European citizens regarding ongoing support for Kyiv.
Later this week, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who has been closely collaborating with his French counterpart, will visit Washington to bolster their case on Ukraine.
Like Macron, he believes his country has a unique relationship with the US that can facilitate discussions and ensure they are heard.
The challenge is that, under Donald Trump’s leadership, Washington is currently prioritizing its agenda, leaving little room for other opinions.
While America has traditionally wielded its influence to achieve its goals, Europe has not often been the recipient of such assertiveness. The shift in this dynamic reflects the severity of the fracture in established alliances.
