Breaking news November 7th at 7am
That Donald Trump‘s extraordinary success constitutes a violent whiplash for the European Union to become aware of the decisive change that is about to take place at a global level and to equip itself accordingly? It can be the classic bad ex (for many) good?
The economy, the observation of what Trump defined as the many wounds suffered by the country, the indications and proposals in this regard by the tycoon were one of the main themes of his electoral campaign. In the first speech after confirming the victory, Trump – obviously having to take into account the emphatic rhetoric of such a moment – spoke of the need to heal the wounds, he represented his determination in leading the USA towards the mythical golden age and he underlined that God saved him from the attack precisely so that he could make America great again. There was also a mention, not usual for him, of working to resolve the divisions in society, putting those recorded so far behind him.
The Trumpian challenge for Europe
Beyond all these statements, Trump’s election still marks a turning point that will have effects on a global level. Europe is affected first and foremost by the planned fort tightening of dutiesfrom the complex question of expenses for security, therefore forAtlantic Alliancefrom the attitude that the new American administration will take in relation to the two wars and, above all, to that in Ukraine and therefore to relations with Russia.
A vision that up to now has been typical of the newly elected president in the name of “America for Americans”, of “America First», therefore in the name of a tendency towards isolationism and in any case not in favor of multilateralism, cannot fail to reverberate its effects in relations with the EU, ending up radically changing their character, beyond what may happen for the international financial institutions, starting with the WTO, not to mention, internally but with foreseeable international impacts, the relations between the government and the Federal Reserve.
A new political power
The photographs spread of Trump along with Elon Musk they provide a plastic image of a close alliance between political power and economic power bordering on a sensation of oligarchy which, however, it must be said, the majority of voters do not consider as such or, at least at this stage, do not consider it that way. Naturally, in politics, good doses of realism and pragmatism can arise, especially when encountering difficulties in fulfilling the commitments of an all-encompassing electoral campaign. It is always possible that harsh reality will impose itself and induce strategic and operational revisions of the mercantilist commitment.
However, it is good to keep in mind that, with the success of the Republicans also at Senate and perhaps to House of Representativesthe party, therefore Trump, comes to have enormous power. In any case, the European Union cannot passively wait for adjustments and changes in political lines to occur. Instead, it is time for Europe, for its autonomy and its potential, up to now almost unexpressed, to finally act, in a cohesive manner, on the international scene.
European approaches to change
There are two ways to approach the predictable changes of the Trump administration on the part of the Old Continent. Each European country establishes and develops more usual relations with the USA by attempting to cushion the blows that may result from American trade and defense policies or from new technologies and large conglomerates: this is a choice typical of those who suffer the divide and rule; or act so that the Union, with the cohesion of its partners, begins to acquire subjectivity in foreign policy, even more so because it is hopefully free from subjection to choices dictated by America (think of relations with China, not to mention Russia) and, while respecting Atlantic constraints, establish new relationships in the economic and social fields. No longer that Europe to talk to which Henry Kissinger said many years ago that he didn’t know who to call, which unfortunately has not made great progress since then, but a Union that marks a turning point in the sharing of particular investments, forms of debt, international policies, institutional structures. One should say: if not now, when will this leap in quality occur? Mario Draghi with his Report launched a caveat for possible European inaction – up to the collapse of the raison d’être of community construction – first and foremost on competitiveness, investments, ecological and digital transitions, and therefore growth.
Now the framework of challenges, already arduous, is crowded and becomes even more difficult with the Trumpian positions, if they remain so. But there is no possibility of escaping it, otherwise, a fall towards irrelevance. In essence, Trump’s election speaks to the Union and not, as he might perhaps think, to an area which, due to a lack of cohesion and truly common policies in fundamental sectors, ends up following the American bandwagon. But he speaks, even if he doesn’t want to, so that the Union, including what is at stake, sets itself on the path to effective unity on fundamental issues, without underestimating the principle of subsidiarity. Certainly not the refusal to collaborate with the USA but an equal relationship without a priori constraints. (reproduction reserved)
