It is crucial for Europe’s leaders to convey clear messages to Donald Trump in language that he cannot misinterpret.
Given his tendency to disregard diplomatic nuances, a straightforward and assertive approach has become the only viable strategy.
With a White House team filled with ideologues and followers, Trump is advancing policies that weaken America’s power and influence while strengthening the European Union.
Thus, there are four essential points that need to be communicated clearly.
Firstly, Trump might refer to Russia as “a loser.” Despite his confidence at the poker table, Putin is in a losing position.
Secondly, the prominent global role of the US exposes it to more backlash than Trump seems to realize.
His “America first” policy is inadvertently transforming the EU from a simple trading union into a significant political force, surpassing even the most optimistic euro-enthusiasts’ expectations.
Here are the four key messages for MAGA.
By aligning with Russia, Trump is making a poor choice in allies.
The stark contrasts in economic and military capabilities between Russia and Ukraine appear to cloud Trump’s view of Putin’s weaknesses.
The Russian Federation resembles a Potemkin village, where a façade of aggression conceals an economy on the verge of collapse and a shrinking population.
The temporary advantage gained from shifting to a wartime economy has dissipated, with stagnating growth and inflation soaring to 20 percent and still climbing.
A looming debt crisis could emerge by summer.
In sharp contrast, the EU that Trump frequently disparages is far larger and more resilient.
Its €20 trillion GDP dwarfs Russia’s by a factor of ten, and despite global challenges, Europeans are united in collective action.
In just a few weeks, the Trump administration has done more to strengthen the EU than Europeans have in the last twenty years. With Europe’s backing, Ukraine—not Russia—will win this standoff.
Trump’s cut in military aid presents a challenge to Ukraine’s defense in the coming months; however, Kyiv can still buy time, reminiscent of the USSR’s strategy against Nazi Germany.
Accelerated advances by Russian forces will not alleviate the pressing issues arising from Russia’s faltering economy and manpower deficits.
Meanwhile, Ukraine can anticipate increased support in the form of equipment and supplies from Europe, including a replacement for Eutelsat if Trump’s ally Elon Musk withdraws the Starlink satellite service.
The future of the war remains unclear, but the fundamental truth is that while both aggressors and defenders are under time pressure, the urgency for a swift peace deal rests more heavily on Putin, and the EU can make sure he ends up disappointed.
Trump is initiating a broader but still unwinnable economic conflict.
The allure of American military power has led Trump and his advisors to believe they can dictate the agenda concerning security and international trade.
Europeans must show him that he stands to lose more than he could ever gain.
Tariffs will ultimately hurt the US by disrupting supply chains and escalating inflation, and the consequences will be even harsher if confidence in the dollar erodes.
The euro’s position as a global reserve currency could receive a significant boost if Trump jeopardizes the safety of US Treasury bonds for investors.
Trump’s obsession with the US trade deficit reveals his misalignment with economic realities.
Tariffs on the EU would negatively impact transatlantic trade and investment, which totals €1.6 trillion annually, including repatriated profits from US multinationals that help balance the EU-US current account, not just trade alone.
Thank you, Donald Trump, for greatly advancing European integration.
In a matter of weeks, the Trump administration has fortified the EU more than Europeans have managed in the previous two decades.
The pressing need to fund a massive rearmament initiative, along with the defense and future reconstruction of Ukraine, is driving EU nations toward collective borrowing that will reshape the Union.
A new EU borrowing mechanism similar to the €800 billion COVID bond is on the horizon to support ambitious national defense commitments.
How far this new “mutualization” of debt will go remains to be seen, but it could significantly enhance the next relatively modest EU budget for 2028-34.
Of course, the EU was never created “to undermine the US,” as Trump recently asserted, but he is certainly doing his utmost to alienate Europe.
Signs suggest that Trump’s strategies to accelerate a “peace deal” seen as advantageous for Russia are backfiring in unexpected ways.
Resistance is diminishing among several EU member states—and even from the European Central Bank—regarding the potential to seize roughly €250 billion in frozen Russian assets.
This action would not only support Ukraine but also hold Russia accountable for reconstruction costs, dealing a significant blow to Putin’s credibility.
Donald Trump has disrupted US foreign policy and presents a chaotic threat to the international rules-based order established over the past eighty years.
He has also indicated to European political leaders that the United States can no longer be relied upon as a defense or economic pillar for the EU and NATO.
The next step for them must be to clearly express their understanding of this situation and rise to the challenge he presents.
*The views expressed in this Frankly Speaking op-ed are those of the author and do not represent Friends of Europe.
*This article originally appeared on the Friends of Europe website and is reproduced here with kind permission.
*The perspectives articulated by the author of this article, Giles Merritt, may not reflect the views of The Bulrushes.
