The question that resonates in Europe
Henry Kissinger’s famous phrase, ‘Who should I call if I want to talk to Europe?’, It reflects the fragmentation of European influence on the global scenario. More than forty years later, the matter continues to find an answer, revealing the weakness of a Europe struggling to make its voice heard.
Summit in Paris: an effortless effort
On February 17, Paris hosted a meeting of European leaders with the aim of forging a unified position before the administration of Donald Trump and the conflict in Ukraine. France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, United Kingdom, the European Commission and NATO met in an attempt to consolidate a coordinated response, but the divergences emerged rapidly.
Differences in military strategy
Just after the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, suggested the possibility of a European peace force, several states expressed their reluctance. France had proposed a ‘comfort of comfort’, but allies such as Germany and Poland described the idea of premature and reckless, emphasizing the lack of consensus.
A secondary role in Ukraine conflict
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, Europe has been confined to a role of weapons and financial support supplier, while the United States has exercised indisputable political leadership. This dynamic has left Europe in a position of inferiority, without Brussels proposing a coherent peace plan after three years of conflict.
The dilemma of military funding
As the debate on increasing military spending progresses, the lack of agreement between Member States becomes apparent. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk sought to reduce tensions, but Germany’s refusal to accept shared debt broadcast for defense illustrates internal fractures that hinder a unified approach.
A FUTUR INCERT per to the European Defense
The European Commission’s proposal to relax the rules of deficit to allow greater investment in defense could be a first step in a more active reaction in some countries, such as Spain. However, the Paris summit has shown Europe’s inability to articulate a coherent foreign policy and a common defense.
Cacophony in European foreign policy not only reveals the lack of consensus, but also the inability to formulate significant initiatives. Thus, Europe is trapped in a secondary role, following the directions of other powers, including Emmanuel Macron, without being able to define its course in today’s world.
