The current Russia-Ukraine crisis has played into the hands of the United States, which had hitherto been witnessing a widening divergence with its European allies. The European Union, meanwhile, is swallowing bitter fruit having tried to loosen the reins the US held on it.
But while the Joe Biden administration is doubtlessly ecstatic at the US being able to call the shots as the head of North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the unity demonstrated in the statement released after the just-concluded NATO summit is nothing more than a mirage.
The world is not what it was during the Cold War when there was a conspicuous division between the two antagonistic camps. Then, European countries were content to rely on the US for protection against the threat from the Warsaw Treaty Organization. But the world is much more pluralistic in many ways today.
The problems in the Western alliance run far deeper than technocratic complaints about defense budgets and gas pipelines between the EU and Russia, or even the question of who should be calling the shots.
There is a limit to how much pain Europe will endure to pressure Russia at the US’ instigation. Is it possible for European countries to follow the US if its obedience means a recession and social turmoil in European countries?
Although the Biden administration does not directly shout the slogan “America first”, it goes without saying that it is the US that is the biggest beneficiary of the Russia-Ukraine crisis. By selling liquefied natural gas and arms to European countries, US companies are making a lot of money, not to mention the political position of the US as the leader of the Western alliance appears to have been strengthened for the moment.
Nevertheless, the world is different from what it was. And so too are the positions of the US and the Europe.
On the one hand, it remains to be seen how long the EU will let the US put its own interests before those of its allies.
On the other hand, the EU as an economic entity has to consider what policies will benefit its economic growth and social progress the most. Other factors, such as the cooperation with China, will most likely be considered.
If anything, making as much effort as possible to seek a political solution to the Russia-Ukraine crisis is in the best interests of the EU countries. The continuation of the crisis and its spillover effects will only be detrimental to the interests and future of Europe.
Editorial, China Daily
