The current post-WW2 order established by the U.S. is coming to an end, according to candid statements made recently by several key countries in the European Union.
Focal countries such as the Germany and France stated that “America first” policies put in place by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump are not temporary, expressing their belief that they point to a permanent change in policy.
Berlin and Paris both predicted that the U.S.’s reckless policies will be very damaging to the EU and repeatedly pointed that their interests do not converge with those of the U.S. any longer.
European capitals have thus resorted to drawing a new roadmap for themselves that seek to prioritize further developing their ties with Turkey, China and Russia.
Germany is spearheading the resetting of the EU’s transatlantic alliance policy. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas spoke last week of the need for resetting the EU’s policies.
“There are fundamental changes in our transatlantic ties. These changes will not disappear post-Trump. Europe and Germany in particular must be strategically ready for this,” emphasized Maas.
Maas had previously said in an op-ed he penned for the German newspaper Handelsblatt that it’s essential that “we strengthen European autonomy by setting up payment channels independent of the U.S., creating a European Monetary Fund and building an independent SWIFT system.”
Berlin is not the only capital parting ways with the U.S. as French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent statements underscore the need for Europe to outline its own political, military and economic policies.
Back in August, Macron defended his position of the EU not relying on the U.S. when it comes to matters of the continent’s security, stressing the need to establish strong strategic ties with both Russia and Turkey.
Last week, Macron said that a Europe that does not adapt to change and developments is in danger, pointing that the U.S. is in need of deep reforms.
Trump has sparked tensions with several of the U.S.'s allies by imposing tariffs on China as well as EU countries, sanctioning Turkish ministers over Ankara’s detention of a U.S. pastor, and withdrawing from a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.
Berlin and Paris are prioritizing strategic ties with Ankara in their new roadmap, which will translate into reviving ties that were frozen following various crises. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is set to visit Germany before the end of the month upon the invitation of his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The comprehensive visit to Berlin will not only signal a fresh start in Turkish-German relations, but also constitute a new beginning for Turkey-EU relations. Another sign of the upcoming rapprochement is the restoration of diplomatic ties and reassignment of ambassadors between Ankara and Amsterdam.
In an interview with the daily newspaper Le Soir, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel termed Monday’s meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in New York as “open and sincere.”
Michel and Erdogan gathered in New York ahead of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly that was held on Tuesday.
“We exchanged views on different matters. The issues of Turkey’s geopolitical role in Syria, fight against terrorism, migration, Turkey’s relations with the European Union, the U.S., and Russia were discussed,” Michel said.
“We’ve decided to revive our relatively slowed-down relations with Turkey. We plan to hold meetings between our security units soon."
“On the other hand, we will restart the trilateral meetings between justice, foreign and interior ministers of the two countries, which were halted after the failed coup attempt in Turkey,” he added.
The Belgian premier also said Belgium and Turkey were on the same page to sustain the cooperation in the fight against terrorism.
