Western Europe is still not ready to engage in a long-term rivalry with Asia
America is trying to balance Europe's independence with competition with China
Europe has not given up self-affirmation in its relationship with America, and this was evident from the recent meeting between Biden and Macron.
Reuters
Schulz is always a voice for reconciliation.
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The visit of the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, to China recently, from the point of view of the American researcher, Seth Cropsey, is an indication that there is a current of concern about Europe’s position with regard to the Eurasian competition. French President Emmanuel Macron, despite his firm position in recent months, has repeatedly differed. With the United States and the United Kingdom, he advised that there be some kind of reconciliation with Russia.
On the other hand, the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, is also a consistent voice for reconciliation, including calling for free movement of goods between the three Baltic states, all EU members, and Russia.
Cropsey, founder and president of the Yorktown Defense Institute, and former deputy US Navy undersecretary, adds in a report published by the American National Interest magazine that the statements of former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson that France and Germany do not seriously believe in the Russian threat, and moreover, that Germany in particular Hopes that the war in Ukraine will end in a quick victory for Russia, to mitigate the economic damage, fit into this pattern of widespread behaviour.
No long-term rivalry
Cropsey pointed out that it is increasingly clear that Western European countries are still not ready to participate in a prolonged Eurasian competition, and therefore the United States should consider how to make the most effective use of European strategic importance, and consider whether the new Europe will be a partner More effective in the long run than the traditional states of ancient Europe.
Cropsey asserted that Western Europe's elusiveness and lack of clarity in relation to China's policy is the culmination of long-term geopolitical trends.
In fact, the policies of France and Germany, and to a lesser extent Britain, towards China stem from similarly clear strategic choices in Europe's policy towards Russia.
Cropsey pointed out that the Franco-German quest for independence did not end with the end of the Cold War, as the two countries used their economic and political strength to avoid the United States.
The differences between Berlin, Paris, London and Washington over Yugoslavia and Iraq were not about substantive politics, but rather about asserting their political status.
the path of globalization
Cropsey emphasized that old Europe followed the path of globalization, not because of deferred democratic dreams, but rather for traditional political goals.
Globalization was a path towards independence. By dividing economic power and weakening the position of the United States, European countries could find a role for themselves as strategically important countries.
In turn, the well-known definition of strategy changed, so there was no longer a need for conventional military capabilities, as the long night of the Cold War proved that conventional military capabilities were useless, and for Germany in particular, it was the “convergence policy” that ended the nightmare, not nuclear or conventional weapons.
However, despite this wrong strategic thinking, the United States cannot simply abandon Europe. There is a sufficient amount of economic strength, political capital, technical capabilities, and geographical advantages in the European continent, which indirectly proves that it is important for any Chinese competition. - An American, because Europe was and still represents half of the Eurasian issue, as it cannot be separated from the calm Indian balance.
The new Europe is very promising, says Cropsey. Post-Soviet Eastern European countries are aware of the dangers of the Russian-Ukrainian war, and are increasingly aware of the threat posed by China to the Eurasian order.
The Baltic states are carefully laying the groundwork for more diplomatic contact and economic cooperation with Taiwan, and Poland has signed several major military deals with South Korea.
Mediator
If reports of direct military cooperation between Ukraine and South Korea prove true, the United States will be the go-between to maintain the legal presumption that South Korea will not support Ukraine militarily, and Eastern Europe is rearming and moving forward.
Ukraine is also moving away from China. President Volodymyr Zelensky has quietly abandoned his Eurasian prudential policy, which sought to attract Chinese investment, after realizing that China has no desire to meddle on Kyiv's behalf.
Cropsey made it clear that the United States should therefore examine ways in which it can integrate Eastern Europe into its China policy.
He explained that the step to achieve this would be to accelerate military-industrial cooperation, and Eastern European countries should be encouraged to cooperate with Asian countries that provide military equipment, including South Korea and Japan. A Eurasian defense-industrial system project to confront the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
Concluding his analysis, Cropsey made it clear that there is nothing that drives Western European countries to do as the United States desires, not even the realities unfolding in Ukraine.
Hence, US policy must adapt to the new European reality.
The United States should consider how to make the most effective use of Europe's strategic importance, and whether the new Europe will be a more effective long-term partner than the traditional states of the old Europe.
The Franco-German quest for independence did not end with the end of the Cold War, as the two countries used their economic and political strength to avoid the United States. The differences between Berlin, Paris, London and Washington over Yugoslavia and Iraq were not about substantive politics, but rather about asserting their political status.
There is nothing that drives Western European countries to do as the United States desires, not even the realities that are unfolding in Ukraine, so US policy must adapt to the new European reality.
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