Summary
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron held a call to discuss the potential implications of Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. presidency for Europe.
The leaders pledged to strengthen cooperation for a “more united, stronger, more sovereign Europe” in light of this possibility. Macron emphasized a commitment to European sovereignty while maintaining cooperation with the U.S. Additionally, German and French defense ministers plan to meet to coordinate on defense policies.
Trump’s ambiguous stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine and his critical view of NATO burden-sharing raise concerns in Europe about future U.S.-Europe relations.
You guys better ramp up arms production and switch to a partial wartime stance. Because Russia isn’t going to stop with Ukraine.
They’ve got nukes though, and plenty of conventional fire power (compared to Ukraine when it was invaded).
They need to invest in a non US lead command structure as that’s all using US tech and personnel.
Europe needs to step up on Ukraine. NATO is out of the picture, the EU needs to stand in its place.
Europe needs to step up on Ukraine.
Realistically, I doubt the western european public opinions are ready to accept 20 year old kids coming home in a coffin. If we put boots on the ground, I expect the war to be more deadly than recent middle-east operations.
So while we could kick of Russia ass, I don’t think we’re ready to pay the political price, at least for Ukraine.
Ironically I think policy support would have been much easier had we put boots on the ground right away. There was initially enormous support for Ukraine, and sending out own soldiers would have given voters a continued vested interest in the war.
Not saying the outcome would have been better, and there is always the threat of nuclear war. However, it would totally changed the course and focus of elections, and my impression is that voters like it when politicians take risks, even if it doesn’t pan out (and even if it’s suicidally stupid).
Western Europe, yep, there’s not much appetite for that. Southern, neither, Northern, I wouldn’t count them out, Baltics will look to the North, Central (without Germany)… basically the only reason Poland didn’t put boots on the ground yet is NATO.
The French might get involved for dignity’s sake, but on a backfoot – special forces, long-range operations. Also sending French MREs is always a good idea.
EDIT: Oh, Italy. Meloni hates Putin’s guts, the FDI may go in even without appetite because well the “post” in “post-fascist” doesn’t mean that they’ve got rid of fascists’ admiration for war, just the more obvious self-defeating aspects. Struggles of national sovereignty seem to be right up their alley. Greece is too broke either way and Turkey will be on Turkey’s side.
That’s not entirely correct. While the US is without a doubt the biggest part of (and contributor to) NATO, it consists of a few other nations as well. But you are absolutely right that Europe needs to get their shit together because it is very likely that the US will scale down their NATO involvement
Trump’s ambiguous stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine and his critical view of NATO burden-sharing raise concerns in Europe about future U.S.-Europe relations.
Absolutely nothing ambiguous about it. Everyone knows where he stands. Exactly where every lapdog stands, behind and slightly off to the side of their master…
Everyone knows where he stands.
I strongly suspect that isn’t true. I think anti-Trump people know where he stands, but I bet a lot of pro-Trump people are about to be in for a big surprise.
Ah, yes…the old “leopards are eating people’s faces, but how was I supposed to know that it’d be my face?” bit.
American here.
Please embargo us. Make it clear that you will not work with a fascist state.
I want our economy to be in fucking ruins come 2026, when 20 Republican senators are up for reelection. If we take the house and a 2/3rds majority in the Senate and we can end this shit in January 2027.
But we need the anger and pain the Republicans have tapped into to fuel the fire to wipe the GOP from existence. And we need the Dems to stop playing fair. We need to go scorched-earth on these motherfuckers.
in fucking ruins
It will somehow just be “the democrats fault” or those pesky brown invaders. And will fire up the base to vote in another shitclown.
No country would be insane enough to embargo the single greatest economic power on Earth.
Honestly you sound like you are part of the problem with America if you would rather see your country ruined in some self-fulfilling prophecy just so that your political opponents will lose next election.
Close Cooperation with eachother. The USA can no longer be seen as a reliable partner with its wild ideological swings and a lack of strong commitment to the cause.
Make or break for a strong European State.
From a UK perspective we’re absolutely fucked due to Brexit. USA is unreliable, detached from the EU, what’s left? BRICS? Lol.
Shit.
BRICS? Lol.
It’d be BRICSUK then. Kinda close to Brexit. Just paint it as the next step after Brexit.
SUKBRICK sounds like a demeaning act that we brought on ourselves so lets go with that.
Everyone that voted for Cheeto Christ has willingly put their teeth to the curb, so SUKBRICK isn’t far off.
