The Transatlantic Relationship: Challenges of Troubled Times

Abstract

The article deals with underlying tendencies that have shaped the transatlantic divisions by the midterm of Donald Trump presidency. It scrutinizes the origins of disagreements which have strained the relationship between the United States and Europe (the EU) since the 45th US President took the office. There is ample evidence which helps to explain why D. Trump’s views have predetermined to a large extent a grave discord with the European allies. However, his outlook reflects way of thinking of a considerable part of American society which considers that America bears an excessive burden of obligations abroad. The US administration’s policies on some international issues (e.g. global trade, climate warming, arms control, Iran) fuel erosion of the long-standing transatlantic consensus. In the author’s judgment, some unfolding crisis-type events in the U.S.-European relations are unprecedented. They originate from incompatible mindsets of leaders on both sides of the Atlantic, from clash of values and views on some key issues and challenges – open market vs. protectionism, multilateralism vs. unilateralism, and international agreements vs. selfish behavior. The ongoing acrimonious trade disputes between the United States and the EU revealed a tough conflict of their interests. They have gotten a high political profile due to the Trump administration’s inclination to regard purely trade spat in terms of national security. The politized approach taken by the U.S. President on trade deficit and tariffs has only exacerbated the tension. The unilateralist, aggressive line pursued by Washington in the international affairs has stirred up European attempts to vitalize the concept of Europe’s ‘strategic autonomy’ worded in the EU ‘Global Strategy’ 2016. The article concludes that the transatlantic divisions may be essentially mitigated with a change of U.S. policies resulted from the U.S. presidential election in 2020.