The transatlantic relationship has been the cornerstone of the EU’s foreign and security policy. However, in a context where some in the US are looking inwards and questioning the values and institutions their country has built internationally, expectations on Europe have increased. The rise of new global power centres has added a new dimension to transatlantic debates, and both sides of the Atlantic must redefine the relationship to preserve security and prosperity, as well as maintain influence in an emerging international system where the 'West’– may no longer be dominant.
The EU has also cultivated and institutionalised relations with Canada and many countries of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Recent changes in the international context have made the EU a more attractive partner to LAC countries, which are facing economic slowdowns, rising criminality and problems related to the rule of law. However, the increasing contestation of democratic values (which used to bind LAC countries together) has put regional institutions under pressure and strained relations with the EU.
Shifts in US foreign policy under Trump 2.0 will inevitably affect EU-Africa relations. In light of the anticipated changes under the incoming White House administration, the EU and its African counterparts should strive to develop more coordinated common policies.
EU leaders would be wise to work with Trump 2.0 on reindustrialisation, whatever differences they may have on Ukraine and bilateral trade. The concentration of fighting capability and industrial capacity in the anti-Western axis is the major threat to Europe’s security.
Under Trump, the US commitment to European defence and NATO is under question. The EU should work to ensure the American presence endures while also taking up a greater burden of the continent's defence in cooperation with the alliance. We suggest where to start.
The EU has a chance to exert influence over the incoming Trump 2 administration if it moves swiftly to make a ‘China pitch’ focused on ‘three Ts’: trade, tech and Taiwan.
With the new US administration focused on the mounting competition with China, the Western Balkans risks being sidelined in the broader geopolitical landscape. The EU needs to anticipate the potential challenges posed by upcoming policy shifts for the region.
Given Trump’s unpredictable foreign policy, in the Indo-Pacific the EU may find itself compelled to act with greater independence in an economically and geopolitically critical region.
Five steps the EU should take to deal with the new US administration.
The EU’s foreign and security policy is in urgent need of a reboot. As a new EU leadership takes the helm, we propose 10 ambitious yet actionable ideas to propel EU foreign policy forward.
Contestation dynamics have intensified in recent years, to the point they are now driving global politics. We explore the convergence of diverse challenges to the current international order and how European leaders and policymakers should navigate this new reality.
As Europe braces for the possibility of a Trump 2.0 presidency, EUISS Director Steven Everts outlines crucial strategies for how Europeans should prepare for such an eventuality and offers essential insights for policymakers navigating uncertain times ahead.
