Why Europe and America need each other

European leaders must rebalance, rather than replace, the bonds that tie them to the United States. Even in the age of Trump, Washington remains an indispensable partner.

During President Trump’s push to acquire Greenland, he spoke of his readiness to take the territory by force or use tariffs to pressure European countries to hand it over. European leaders pushed back. After a year of relying on flattery and workarounds to manage a president whose personality they found to be as disruptive and bewildering as his policies, they became more direct and explicit. The security issues raised by Trump about the importance of Greenland could be addressed through normal channels: a land grab could not. This was a line that must not be crossed. Following a timely intervention by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and with one eye on the markets, Trump backed down. Yet the episode left the allies shaken.

Many argue that, in these circumstances, there is little choice but to accept that the Atlantic Alliance is over. So long as Trump is president, the US cannot be relied upon in an emergency. The levels of distrust created will take years to dissipate. Mark Carney, the Canadian prime minister, spoke of a time of rupture rather than transition, arguing that middle powers must work together to look after their own interests rather than assume that this can always be achieved  in partnership with the United States.

There have been many crises afflicting NATO in the past, but this one feels different. The allies of the US have always been anxious about two possible developments – abandonment or entrapment. With abandonment, the US would cut Europe adrift and encourage it to fend for itself, leaving it vulnerable against the Soviet Union and now Russia. With entrapment, the US would stay fully committed to European security but in return expect the allies to support Washington’s foreign policy adventures, even if these risked a wider war.