What does NRC think | Trumps evil loyalty requires a self -reliant EU harder than ever

Trump who his eggs in Putin's basket lays; Trump who lets his country venture in the UN With Belarus and North Korea; Trump that Ukraine a cynical one raw material deal; Trump who explains that the European Union has been put on earth in his eyes « to the US sewAnd should be punished with trading rates. The harvest of a week of international politics is gloomy, especially when you consider that Trump is only there for five weeks. Evil faith of this size seemed like something from history books or films. Or it seemed to have others. Afghans, Palestinians, Syrians: they know what it feels like when the West closes or runs away. Now the Western world itself is looking at the apparent convenience with which the familiar world order is staggered.

Fortunately, there are also signals in the midst of Trumps's urge to destruce that the EU can pick up. Germany woke up on Monday with a clear election results and a new Federal Chancellor who – finally – Leadership promises in the EU. Friedrich Merz is also willing to give Ukraine more heavier weapons than the sitting Chancellor Scholz and he wants to talk to France and the UK about a European atoma paraplu, which could also hide Germany. To his own great regret, Merz found that « independent of the US » has become a top priority, while Germany has not even processed the previous shock – the betrayal of Russia.

On Monday, EU boss Ursula von der Leyen went to KYIV with a heavy delegation, including numerous government leaders, to mark that the war that has been unleashed by Russia has been taking three years now, but also to show solidarity to Ukraine and the President Zensky, which is slumped by Trump. The next day, French President Emmanuel Macron showed in the White House that also Van Trump does not have to be picked up just like that, by 'fact checking' live.

On Wednesday, Macron, as befits allies, will contributed extensively. In the meantime, the UK, although it is not an EU member, is raising more than ever with the EU. Earlier this week, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the « largest Structural rise in Defense spending Since the end of the Cold War ”. Thursday he went in the wake of Macron to the White House around Europe and NATO voice.

Whether it all lasts will have to be seen. After Trump received Macron, he still announced a trade war against the EU. Merz may want to play the good European, with his eager invitation to Netanyahu to visit Germany, in spite of an arrest warrant against the Israeli Prime Minister, he is damaging the international legal order. Von der Leyen is very active, but is currently totally ignored by Trump as a serious conversation partner. Starmer may seek more collaboration, after the Brexit he will not want to be seen as too stuck.

Nevertheless, it is hopeful that new solidarity and consensus will start between the most important European countries, from Warsaw to London. On Sunday, Starmer will receive the European leaders in London. Next Thursday there will be an EU summit in Brussels, with Zensky. The fact that European leaders want to work as closely when it comes to defense and safety, standing right in front of Ukraine and does not go along with Trumps most absurd rhetoric can only be welcomed. Of course, not all EU countries are in line. Hungary and Italy see Trump as an ideological spirit, especially when it comes to migration and 'own country first'. But Giorgia Meloni also applies as a fierce defender of Ukraine and NATO. On Monday, the Italian Prime Minister was also there in Kyiv.

In Trumps new world order, international politics is all about large power blocks. Those who are not in such a block are on the menu, experience Ukraine now. It is a hard break with multilateralism that once originated to protect the smaller countries, including the Netherlands, against the larger ones. The return of old -fashioned imperialism makes the need for a self -reliant EU greater than ever. For an experience of Europe from the armchair, with the EU as a handy menu, the space has now suddenly become very small. Meloni may then sympathize with Trump, without the EU, Italy plays nothing ready to the US. The current Dutch cabinet may then fantasize about an EU that does have the pleasure of, but not the (financial) burdens – the new geopolitical reality requires much more ambition and dedication to the EU than has recently been shown from The Hague. Thinking that the Netherlands can defy this storm on its own would be very naive and irresponsible. Unless you think it's great to be extorted.

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