Fears that EU talk on boosting the bloc’s mutual defence clause could lead Donald Trump to downgrade Washington’s commitment to NATO’s Article 5 are overblown, the US ambassador to the EU under Barack Obama, Anthony Gardner, told Euractiv in an interview.
“The talk about a common European defence is too early,” Gardner said, just days after US President Donald Trump announced his decision to pull troops out of Germany. “Europe has to walk before it runs – common procurement, better spending.”
Gardner, who is now an advisor to a global investment firm, does not share capitals’ fear of upsetting Trump by talking mutual defence in the EU, which is covered under Article 42.7. “I can’t believe that argument is being used. I don’t think Donald Trump cares,” he said.
As earlier reported by Euractiv, the EU’s diplomatic wing has been drafting a handbook explaining what kind of resources are available if the 42.7 clause is triggered. The best way for the EU to deal with Trump is by standing its ground, Gardner said, adding that “a lot of rhetoric in Brussels … runs ahead of reality.”
“In Washington, there is significant disdain for EU threats – they’re simply not taken seriously. Take the repeated threats of the trade bazooka – Well, that came to absolutely nothing.”
“Europe should focus on what can be done in the short term to improve its economic vitality. This is a moment to make the euro a real competitor to the dollar as there is growing concern about the sustainability of US fiscal policy. The window is open now, but it won’t stay open indefinitely.”
According to Gardner, the EU itself remains its own main obstacle to speaking candidly to US power and strengthening European economies. “We’ve been talking about a capital markets union for how long now? Around 15 years – and not much has been done.”
He warned that EU leaders may fail to sustain the sense of urgency created by the Trump presidency.
“After 2028, we’re hopefully going to return to more sane policies. And once and if that happens, … the sense of crisis is going to recede,” Gardner said. “Decisions are taken only in Europe under a sense of threat.”
(jp, at)
Source:
www.euractiv.com