Europe's relationship with the US was changing even before Donald Trump
and his provocative Tweets came along. Germany now sees the current
trans-Atlantic antipathy as a historic opportunity to redefine the EU's
role, writes Germany's foreign minister.
If we go it alone, we will fail in this task. The outstanding aim of
our foreign policy is to build a sovereign, strong Europe. Only by
joining forces with France
and other European nations can a balance with the US be achieved. The
European Union must become a cornerstone of the international order, a
partner for all those who are committed to it. She is predestined for
this, because compromise and balance lie in her DNA.
“Europe United” means this: We act with sovereignty at those points
where nation-states alone cannot muster the level of power a united
Europe can. We are not circling the wagons and keeping the rest of the
world out. We are not demanding allegiance. Europe is building on the
rule of law, respect for the weaker, and our experiences that show that
international cooperation is not a zero-sum game.
A balanced partnership means that we Europeans take an equal share of
the responsibility. Nowhere is the trans-Atlantic link more
indispensable to us than in terms of security. Whether as a partner in
NATO, or in the fight against terrorism, we need the US. We must draw
the right conclusions from this.
It is in our own interest to strengthen
the European part of the North Atlantic Alliance. Not because Donald
Trump is always setting new percentage targets, but because we can no
longer rely on Washington to the same extent. But the dialectic of the
trans-Atlantic also means this: If we take on more responsibility, then
Americans and Europeans can continue to rely on each other in the
future.
Read more: Making plans for a new world order