COLUMNS

Europe and the U.S. Find Themselves in a 'Transatlantic Stretch' Over Policy

Aug 8, 2019 | 09:00 GMT

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab speaks with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab speaks with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. As the global great power competition intensifies, the interests of individual Western states will increasingly diverge, threatening the West's ability to present a unified front on certain issues.

(ZACH GIBSON/Getty Images)

Highlights

  • Intensifying great power competition is increasing the number of disagreements between the United States and Europe, despite their overall alignment on global affairs.
  • This friction is manageable; while their interests may diverge on certain issues, the transatlantic relationship is resilient, embedded in political, economic and military realities.
  • However, the relationship can only stretch so much, and the continued escalation of global competition will put their friendship to the test.

Whether in an arms race with a resurgent Russia, economic arm wrestling with China, or even attempts to contain the ambitions of rogue actors like North Korea or Iran, the states that make up the so-called West have regularly found themselves allied together since the end of World War II. But the West is no monolith. The Western world, which is so central to the narrative of global power and which has been codified in several treaties, organizations and alliances over the course of a century, is incredibly diverse in ideology, identity and goals. So far, this diversity has been manageable due to the relative alignment of interests among Western countries, governments and non-state actors. But as the global great power competition intensifies, the interests of individual Western states will increasingly diverge, threatening the West's ability to present a unified front on certain issues....

Keep Reading

Register to read three free articles

Proceed to sign up

Register Now

Already have an account?

Sign In