The European Union is seeking a role more or less independent of the US.

The unilateral and one-sided actions of the United States have practically made it mandatory for the European Union member states to seek solutions and adopt a more independent approach. The US withdrawal from Afghanistan and its approach towards China are among the issues that have caused discontent in Europe.

Charles Michel, President of the European Council, announced at the beginning of a two-day summit of EU leaders and heads of state in Slovenia that the issue is about increasing the weight and role of the European Union on the international stage and defending the interests and common values ​​of the Union.

Michel is referring to the United States' unilateralism in international politics. With Joe Biden's victory in the presidential election, European politicians had hoped that the new US administration would distance itself from the unilateral policies of the Trump administration and coordinate its actions with its European allies.

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan without considering Europe's concerns, as well as the country's conclusion of a strategic pact with Britain and Australia, are among the issues that have ended the optimism of this group of European politicians regarding the performance of the new US government.

On the other hand, European countries view the US government's policy and performance in response to the challenges arising from the actions of the People's Republic of China with skepticism.

At the summit of EU leaders and heads of state, Charles Michel emphasized NATO's role as the main pillar of European security and called for the union to play a more independent role.

Macron and a strong Europe

French President Emmanuel Macron called for strengthening the power and capacity of the European Union at various levels. Macron emphasized strengthening the efficiency of EU member states in the fields of technology, industry, finance, and the military, and considered these axes essential for creating a strong Europe.

It should be noted that Macron had also called for the European Union's military independence from the United States after the hasty US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August.

The French President intends to hold a high-level conference on European security and defense affairs during his country's rotating presidency of the Council of Europe (in the first half of 2022).

Opposition from Eastern European countries

Talk of a more independent approach from the United States by some European Union countries, including the two largest countries in the union, Germany and France, has been met with opposition from the Baltic Sea countries (Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia) as well as opposition from Eastern European countries.

These countries, concerned about Russia's increasing influence, look to the NATO defense pact, as well as the United States, as a guarantee of their security against Russia.

Other important issues of the Supreme Conference

Other important issues were also raised at the summit of EU member states' leaders, including coordinating the EU's policy towards China's expanding influence and the issue of rising energy prices.

But what has caused discontent among some EU member states has been the US security pact with Britain and Australia.

Josep Borrell, the European Union's foreign policy coordinator, has strongly criticized this unilateral action by the United States, which was taken without coordination with European allies.

Meanwhile, France's dissatisfaction with this security pact has another reason. The decision by the US and Britain to send nuclear submarine construction technology to Australia has actually angered France.

France had reached an agreement with Australia in 2016 to sell submarines to that country. Now, the US-UK-Australia security pact has led to the cancellation of the €56 billion French sale.

At the Slovenia summit, discussions continued on the admission of new members to the European Union, but the leaders of the EU member states agreed on the payment of financial assistance within the framework of the new economic and investment program for the Western Balkan countries.

Source: DW