Europe Is No Longer Anyone’s Pawn

Source: Author’s Facebook page

On the Eve of the Trump-Putin Meeting in Alaska, Predictions of a “New Yalta” and Europe’s Division Prove Overstated

During the Yalta Conference, the Allied forces were already in Europe and could therefore divide the old continent into spheres of influence without any difficulty. Today, the most that Trump and Putin can attempt is to “divide” the occupied Ukrainian territories, which they cannot. Thus, this is not Yalta at all.

After World War II, the renowned Polish publicist Jerzy Stempowski bitterly noted that the fate of the continent was determined by states outside of Europe. Stempowski was correct. The United States is located across a vast ocean. Great Britain, an island at the time, was primarily focused on its non-European possessions. Russia, meanwhile, is a continental power that can turn its focus toward Asia at any moment.

From this perspective, Anchorage resembled Yalta only in that it was a meeting of leaders who neither understand nor care for Europe, although they sincerely believe they do. Indifference to Europe has been dictated by the very culture and tradition of American politics. The first American president who attempted to change this tradition was Woodrow Wilson, President during the First World War. He realized that America’s security was inseparable from that of Europe, but he suffered total defeat.

All of his successors promised not to continue Wilson’s policy—and so did Franklin Roosevelt. Roosevelt became an ally of Europe in World War II not so much out of conviction as out of necessity, yet the continent remained, for him, a pie to be divided with Stalin—and again, not out of desire, but out of necessity.

The president who truly realized that it was impossible to act without the support of Europe (at least the part that remained outside the Soviet sphere of influence) was not Roosevelt, but Truman. At the same time, American isolationism and misunderstanding of Europe persisted. Americans do not sincerely comprehend the motives that guide Europeans. Their division is not between those who understand Europe and those who do not, but between those who love Europe and those who do not.

Henry James, a classic of both British and American literature, once grasped this distinction and was able to embody it in his work. Yet, James was an American who wished to become British. His American heroes may be naive and provincial, but they love Europe, even if they do not fully share the European outlook on life.

Trump, on the other hand, genuinely dislikes Europe. This is understandable. Trump is a person guided exclusively by his self-interest (and, by extension, the interests of the American state as he perceives it). A united Europe represents a far more challenging economic partner than disunited European states. America can dictate terms to each sovereign state”, but with the European Union, it must negotiate collectively. How could this not be frustrating? For this reason, Trump has consistently supported the weakening of the European Union and endorsed the withdrawal of Great Britain from it.

In this, Trump is quite similar to Putin. The Russian president has also consistently been irritated by the European Union, precisely because it is much easier for Moscow to influence each separate European state than a united Europe. Consequently, both Trump and Putin view the project of a united Europe as one of their primary challenges.

However, neither of them can now divide Europe between themselves. Russian troops are stuck in Ukraine. American forces are present in Europe as allies, not as occupiers. Moreover, the Europeans themselves do everything possible to maintain their presence on the continent. These forces can protect against potential aggression, but they cannot interfere in political life.

The example of Alaska therefore, demonstrates how much progress European countries have made in the post-war period. After World War II, they were compelled to accept the verdict of the victors. Today, neither Trump nor Putin can impose their will on them. Furthermore, they cannot even reach an agreement among themselves regarding Europe, precisely because they are unable to impose their decisions on others.

Europe is no longer an American pie.

Nor is it Russian.

Also, follow “Pryamyi” on Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, and Instagram.

• Materials published in the “OPINIONS” section reflect the opinion of the author of the publication, who bears full responsibility for the accuracy of the information.
• The editorial staff of prm.ua may not share the opinions expressed in the author’s material.
• The owner of the webpage in the “OPINIONS” section is the author of the publication.