America's military, moral and economic ties to Europe are proving more durable than their differences over the environment
JULY 26, 2001
By Robert J. Lieber
It took Russia's agreement to link deep cuts in nuclear arsenals with the first talks over missile defenses to demonstrate that the rhetoric depicting impending disaster in European-American relations has been mistaken.
Until President Bush's last trip to Europe, the basic realities of that relationship seemed distorted by fears and mockery over his obsessions with the death penalty, missile defense, and the evils of the Kyoto global warming treaty. Indeed, European first impressions of Bush were so lopsidedly negative that one British columnist recently described him as a "reckless brigand."
Such assessments were bound to moderate as Bush's foreign policy team settled in and the president became better known to his European counterparts. But also helping Europeans overcome their initial doubts about Bush are some durable pillars of the trans-Altantic relationship that deserve restating .
First, America's international primacy and military capacity remain unmatched by any country in the world. British and Italian praise for the Bush-Putin agreement to seek a new "strategic framework" on nuclear weapons and missile defense only underscores Europe's dependence on the United States for its security amid long-term uncertainties about Russia, the Balkans and the southern Mediterranean.
Second, despite talk about European Union plans for a common foreign and defense policy, the realities conform neither to the ambitious claims of European advocates, nor to the anxieties expressed by American critics. Even if Europe achieves its target for a rapid reaction force of 60,000 troops by 2003, it will lack not only the most modern military technology, but also the ability to project power without close American cooperation.
Third, despite resentments about American dominance and real differences over economic issues, Europe and America share a fundamental interest in sustaining the rules and institutions that underpin the global economy. This remains the case, even though European, American and Japanese economies differ in their degree of regulation and government intervention.
Lastly , despite recent rhetoric over cultural and lifestyle issues, such as McDonald's and genetically modified foods, Europe and America share much more enduring basic values in constitutional democracy and the rule of law. Their shared anchor in these hard-won achievements cannot be minimized.
To be sure, the disagreements between Europe and the United States are real and won't disappear so fast. The latest example is the stinging rebuke that the Europeans handed Bush in Bonn last week when they led the way to an agreement on how to limit their emissions of greenhouse gases, leaving the United States alone and isolated among the 178 countries that embraced the new rules..
But overall, what stands out above the day to day recriminations is the solid military, economic and moral foundation for close and continuing European-American ties. There won't be any shortage of quarreling in marriage, but don't believe any talk about divorce.
Robert J. Lieber is a professor of government at Georgetown University. (Copyright 2001, Global Beat Syndicate, 418 Lafayette Street, Suite 554, New York, NY 10003 http://www.nyu.edu/globalbeat/syndicate).