Shredding the Postwar Order | Fintan O’Toole | The New York Review of Books

The Shifting Sands of US-Europe Relations

Fintan O’Toole's article details the dramatic shift in the relationship between the US and Europe, particularly under the Trump administration. The piece chronicles the transition from Trump's initial praise for Poland and a strong Europe to the open contempt shown by his associates towards the European Union. This shift is attributed to several key factors.

Key Factors in the Deterioration

• Trump's Impeachment and Mueller Report: These events seem to have intensified Trump's antipathy toward the EU.
• Increased Interference in European Politics: The Trump administration actively supported far-right and neofascist parties in Europe, undermining the EU from within.
• Alliance with Big Tech: Trump's partnership with American tech giants created a confluence of interests: Big Tech's desire to avoid EU regulations and Trump's goal of supporting anti-EU movements.
• Distorted Views of Masculinity: O’Toole argues that a hypermasculine worldview, portraying Europe as weak and feminine, fuels Trump's antagonism.
• Misconceptions about the EU: Trump's understanding of the EU is characterized by significant inaccuracies and personal grievances.

O'Toole highlights Trump's personal insults, vague grievances, and confusion about NATO and EU structures. He suggests that Trump’s actions, driven by fixed ideas and instincts, are reshaping relations more dramatically than at any time since World War II.

The Future of the Transatlantic Relationship

The author posits that Trump’s actions, far from leading to the EU's collapse, may actually strengthen it. The EU is depicted as responding to the US hostility by consolidating and moving towards greater independence. This includes increased military spending and the potential for the euro to become a stronger alternative to the dollar.

O’Toole concludes that Trump's strategy, while aiming to dismantle the EU and create a pro-Russian sphere of influence, may inadvertently result in a more unified and independent EU with significantly diminished US influence. The article underscores a potential future where “America Alone” faces the consequences of its actions.