Donald Trump, in abandoning his historical allies, as reported in your editorial “America has turned on its friends” (FT View, February 22), is applying the strategy that the Romans called “divide et impera” (divide and rule).
Europe stands at a crossroads, facing a crisis which it can and must turn into an opportunity to rethink, first and foremost, its common foreign policy. Note I am speaking of Europe, not just the EU. This delicate transition cannot, in any way, disregard the UK, given its traditional role as a bridge to the new world and the added value that the former member state can bring to the EU in defence matters, primarily as a nuclear power.
From the increase in military spending that Trump is demanding of Nato allies, I am convinced this could reshape the balance of power within the alliance itself.
If a “realistic” expenditure of about 3 per cent of GDP were reached, Europe would implicitly lay the groundwork for a common army and position itself as an increasingly influential player within the North Atlantic pact. This would enable Europe to sit at the table and speak with one voice on foreign policy and potential tariffs.
The individual attempts by European leaders to negotiate personally with Trump for the benefit of their national electorates are bound to be futile — perhaps bringing short-term advantages but certainly leading to a general deterioration in the long run — and can only serve to legitimise the US president.
A common voice from Europe is the only viable solution.
At the core of all this, there must, of course, be a shared vision and a clear “unwritten code of conduct” among the leaders themselves.
The US knows how to apply the motto “united we stand, divided we fall” perfectly in practice. Differences in views and policies among individual states do not prevent America from consistently presenting itself as a global leader with a single voice.
In a world increasingly held hostage by populism and nationalism, Europe must begin to act in a similar manner — lest it be “divisi et imperati” (divided and ruled) in the decades to come.
Its leaders are called upon to act as true statesmen, adopting policies that bring benefits not only to the present but, above all, to future generations. Let us not miss this opportunity.
Pietro Negri
Lawyer, Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
