DNA Edit: US is still necessary for Europe’s security

German Chancellor Angela Merkel believes that Europe will be fine without the US, a view she has endorsed once again this week. A picture of the German Chancellor staring down angrily at US President Donald Trump at the G7 meeting epitomised the wide differences between Europe, Canada and the US on various issues. The fact that President Trump himself failed to show traditional gestures of goodwill showed that the divide was widening.

From calling Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ‘dishonest’, to publicly yanking away his support from the G7 statement, the President seems to believe that Europe and Canada need the US more than he needs them. To an extent, Trump is correct. Like it or not, Europe is sitting on a tinderbox and US presence is required. President Vladimir Putin’s annexation of Crimea within the Ukraine is making East European countries jumpy, the sovereign debt crisis has festered discontent, while security remains a huge issue.

Though countries such as Germany and France have pushed up their defence budgets — the ISIS threat and troubles in the Middle East indicate that Europe is facing unprecedented challenges, which it cannot handle alone. Also, given that the US and the EU are each other’s largest trading partners, it is unthinkable that Europe could turn its back on the US. While all this may be true, it is also true that the US needs Europe as an ally right now. With Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping looking to create a greater Russia and China, respectively, the US’ position as a dominant power is being questioned. Beijing has responded forcefully to Washington on threats of a trade war, and has continued its activities in the South China Sea, despite US warnings. So, while he may not admit it, Trump needs like-minded allies to rally behind him.