What Europe wants from President Obama By Tomas Valasek
★ Barack Obama will have Europe’s goodwill, and with it, an opportunity to restore transatlantic co-operation on key security issues. He has sketched out some changes that Europe will welcome, for example talking directly to Iran to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons. But he has offered little detail on other important issues like Russia. ★ The economic crisis will shape Obama’s presidency as well as transatlantic relations for the next few years. The new president should resist calls for bailouts and the protection of America’s car industry. Europe and others would respond in kind and global trade would slow, further reducing economic growth. ★ If Obama handles the immense challenges before him effectively, and restores America’s image in the world, the European Union will benefit. Europe’s close historical links with Washington may well become one of the EU’s strongest assets in its external relations. Dear President Obama, The election is over so we can speak freely: you were Europe’s favourite candidate. We are delighted that the American people have chosen you on November 4th. You will have our goodwill and with it, a window of opportunity to restore transatlantic co-operation on key security issues. From where we stand, we see an almost endless row of crises before you, from that in the financial markets to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We will be of little help to you on some, like stopping North Korea’s nuclear programme. But on many others, from Iran to Russia to climate change, strong USEuropean co-operation will be essential if we are to make progress.
like Iran and Afghanistan, you have sketched out how policy may change; on others, like Russia, you offered few new ideas during the campaign. We hope that you will think creatively on all fronts. Europe and the US have grown estranged under your predecessor. Some of us have disagreed with him vehemently on Iraq. On other issues like Iran we felt we were not getting the support we needed from Washington. But if you show skill and wisdom in handling the crises before you, you will silence the US’s critics in Europe and re-affirm your friends’ faith in American leadership. We believe that Europe is stronger when working with the US on its side and we suspect that you, too, could use our help.
The challenges Whether you succeed in restoring transatlantic cooperation on foreign policy will depend in part on your willingness to try out new approaches to the challenges discussed in this letter. Europe will expect you to transform the substance of US foreign policy as much as its style. On some issues,
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No issue will shape transatlantic relations under your presidency as much as the economic crisis. Some of us have blamed the US for much of the current trouble (partly unfairly; we know European banks were only too happy to join the sub-prime rush). We hope that you will manage the crisis intelligently because our
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