Nostr Web Client

The thing is, I think the world would be a much better place if the European Union was strategically independent, and fully capable of defending itself and setting its own foreign policy, independent of the United States. I think having a strategic competitor to the United States that shares liberal democratic values would be far superior to the current arrangement. I would literally sleep better at night.

Here’s the problem: despite Macron’s dream of pursuing this strategic autonomy, they’re not doing any of the things that’s would be necessary to make this a reality. To the contrary, Macron literally just went to China and called for deeper integration between the EU and China. France and Germany are in the advanced stages of exporting the manufacturing of their electric vehicle manufacturing to China! This is insane.

Macron is actually right to be pissed off at the US for its protectionist economic policy, stemming from the new industrial policies coming out of the CHIPS Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act. The economic populism in these bills, should have been primarily aimed at China, and should have excluded critical allies like the EU — Only Mexico and Canada were spared due to their free trade agreement with the US. This was bad fucking policy by Congress. It punched the Europeans in the eye, economically for no good reason. But Americans are feeling very economically isolationist these day. So there’s a lot of idiocy going around on both sides of the Atlantic.

But this highlights another absurdity about the EU’s engagement with the US right now. Instead of running to China asking for deeper integration, because the US just snubbed them, they should be trying to sell the American public on how it would benefit *them* to cooperate with the EU on energy and supply chains. Not trying to convince Xi Jinping.

Sure, the US have become fickle assholes on trade policy. But it’s certainly worth the damned investment to push back on this. What the hell are we doing, here? This is serious shit.

I still have optimism that there will be a reversal of course here. But it’s going to come when enough of the North American and European public becomes sufficiently terrified through some external crisis. The real question is, how much damage will have been done when that happens?

Mike Dilger ☑️ 2y ago

Ideally, what you say is true. Having a multipolar world with two large and powerful liberal democratic powers would be far better. But practically I don't think Europe is cohesive enough for it to work. France will do their thing, Germany will do theirs, and the UK brexited so they could do theirs.

But lots of little powers are not necessarily weaker and can organize along various lines separately. Consider NATO countries all being separate but fighting together as a block as an example.

I don't know how Europe would benefit much from deeper ties with America. America is selling them energy now at 3-4x the price they paid before, is more expensive in terms of goods and labor too, and has this annoying habit of political trickery. China is a better partner in almost every way that matters: labour cost, energy cost, high tech, and keeping their promises.

If you are concerned about their human rights record, I am too. But trading with them doesn't cause more human rights abuse... it improves both Europe and China in economic ways having nothing to do with the human rights abuses.

I guess I'm just saying that you can't fix everything, and every move should be judged on its own merits.

Reply to this note

Please Login to reply.

Discussion

Moss 2y ago

Now that the public opinion of the world is divided and confronted, it is difficult for the EU to unite. The independence of Europe will make the world more balanced. If democratic countries cannot independently make decisions for the interests of the people of the country, all democratic countries can only let a few countries decide theirs. Fate, this may lead to a democratic centralized dictatorship.