Playing by Trump’s rules, Europe’s weakness and nervous cohesion in the face of new challenges: European media on the NATO summit in The Hague
The NATO summit taking place in The Hague will be one of the key events of the year for Europe’s security architecture. Against the background of prolonged confrontation with Russia, a new phase of conflict in the Middle East and political uncertainty in the US, the Alliance intends to demonstrate not only unity, but also strategic determination. Member states are expected to agree to a gradual increase in defense spending to 5% of GDP, a decision aimed at strengthening military capabilities in the long term. The European media are closely following the preparations for the summit and are trying to figure out: is this a demonstration of strength or nervous cohesion in the face of new challenges?
De Standaard – Belgium. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has a difficult task to mend the cracks in the alliance, which are becoming more and more obvious, notes the Brussels-based De Standaard:
“In order to preserve the cohesion of NATO, Mark Rutte will have to delve well into the silos of his political tricks. All this leads to the emergence of very bizarre structures, when such countries as Spain suddenly get the right not to follow some general rules, although officially such a right is not recognized by anyone.
Last Monday, Rutte assured that Ukraine is on the “irreversible path” to NATO. This statement once again demonstrated what a difficult balance he has to maintain, namely – to keep all European countries in the same boat with the help of extremely blurred concessions. However, he has to face the fact that the gulf between Trump and the rest of the alliance is widening, and mending the cracks in this common boat is becoming increasingly difficult.”
Kleine Zeitung – Austria. The Viennese Kleine Zeitung states:
“And on the European continent, everything revolves around one person from America. The entire NATO summit, which is being held in The Hague, Netherlands, was built for the “wishes” of American President Donald Trump.
The fact that the most intensive part of the meeting was shortened to two and a half hours – so that Trump would not get bored! – and the fact that a game of golf must have been included in the program is just marginal notes.”
Spotmedia – Romania. Now Trump may better understand the significance of other NATO countries in terms of logistics, – notes the Romanian portal Spotmedia:
“This US operation in Iran was difficult, and it would not have been possible to carry it out without the cooperation of other NATO countries and the involvement of the US military infrastructure on the territory of Europe. Donald Trump is fully aware of this.
“The success of the American operation, during which strikes were made on Iranian nuclear facilities, can restore relations between the new American administration and the European Union – and thereby give impetus to the first negotiations on consistent support of Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression.”
L’Opinion – France. Europe has demonstrated its foreign policy impotence – this is the verdict of the Parisian L’Opinion.
“On the issue of Ukraine, the Europeans have been demonstrating for more than three years that they have neither the means nor the will to sufficiently help Kyiv shift the military advantage to its side.
Neither Brussels nor any of the major European capitals has any real influence on the course of events. The NATO summit will only confirm this reality: the United States continues to play a central role.
The European Council will once again try to save face and hide not only disagreements on key geopolitical issues, but also the obvious weakness of Europe itself, whose institutions and philosophy no longer correspond to the realities of the modern world.”
15min – Lithuania. The problems and challenges facing the EU countries will not go away after the end of the summit, political scientist Ramunas Vilpišauskas notes on the Lithuanian portal 15min:
“One of these problems sounds like this: how to explain to the population that an increase in defense spending is necessary and that security is a cornerstone? It is especially difficult to do this in countries where populist parties – even in Germany, which aspires to a leading role! – criticize such spending and try to get political benefit from the opposition of “guns” and “oil”.
De Volkskrant – Netherlands. The ability to resist cannot be strengthened by the increase in defense spending alone, – emphasizes the columnist of the Amsterdam De Volkskrant, Marika Leiten:
“Defense also requires a common understanding of who we are – and what our community is. Putin is attacking European societies at their most vulnerable point – the interweaving of relationships. His hybrid war is destabilizing and provoking division. To establish the new world order that Putin sees, the West must plunge into chaos.
Our ability to resist begins with social cohesion. To allow the destruction of social relationships means to undermine the issue of security in times of hybrid warfare.”
