Whether Xi or Trump, the EU Looks Vulnerable

Imagine a truth serum is passed around at a meeting of US and European leaders at the tail-end of Joe Biden’s presidential first term. What would some mutual truths about the trans-Atlantic relationship involve, once the complimentary talk of shared history and steadfast solidarity with Ukraine is out of the way?

The first might be a confession: For all the display of unity on Ukraine, the US is neither reliable nor consistent when it comes to Europe. The second, an admonishment: That’s partly because Europe is itself divided and unwilling to reduce historic dependencies on China trade and US security (dubbed “vassalization” by the European Council on Foreign Relations). And the third, an encouragement: A stronger, more independent Europe would be in America’s interest — honest.