In a climate of schism, Trump returns to Europe with the end caps

PARIS.- For more than 70 years, no one has never imagined that


US
and Europe could reach the edge of a historical schism. However, this is what is happening right now, when Trump arrives on the Old Continent to attend two meetings where anything could happen: the NATO summit – scheduled today and tomorrow to Brussels – and the meeting on Monday 16, in Helsinki, between the tycoon and


Vladimir Putin

Never in history have the allies of two planetary wars touched a transatlantic summit in such an execrable atmosphere. Even in the most difficult moments of this relationship – such as the Suez Crisis in 1956 or the wars in Vietnam and Iraq – the disagreements between Washington and Europe could be considered profound, but in no way fell into the category of "existential conflicts". . This time is different

This meeting, in any case, is preceded by disturbing signs.

For Trump, NATO and the


European Union
(EU) are part, together with the World Trade Organization (WTO), of the trio of enemies that she aspires to destroy during her tenure. Although it is not European, this list also includes – for a few months – Canada

In its diplomatic doctrine, all represent the same thing. This vision ignores the fact that NATO and the WTO were two US creations to secure their military and economic hegemony. "The EU was created to take advantage of the United States," he argued boldly on June 26.

"What is France doing in the EU, why do not you leave it?", He challenged President Emmanuel Macron last meeting at the White House

Trump's contempt for the "l. NATO – which he calls "obsolete" – is visibly focused on Germany and Chancellor Angela Merkel. The symbol of this contempt was evident with the unprecedented gesture he had with Merkel at the last G-7 in Canada. At one point in the meeting, Trump threw two Starburst candies at the chancellor, saying, "You can not say I never gave you anything."

Disregarding the multilateral format of the summit of the 39 NATO, Trump is insensitive to the nuances and subtleties of politics and, even more, to the reality of numbers.

At the end of June, the White House asked the Pentagon to begin badyzing the cost and the impact of a "" large-scale withdrawal "of US forces stationed in Germany, estimated at 35,000 men. This measure aims theoretically to sanction the "hostile" attitude of Berlin and other countries that do not also contribute to the common security provided by NATO.

Trump does not say or does not know that Berlin finances about 33% of the costs represents the US military presence in the country. In addition, much of the forces stationed in Germany are used in military operations outside of Europe. The White House occupant also does not remember that the withdrawal movement was initiated by Barack Obama, who reduced the contingent from 48,000 in 2010 to 35,000 today.

Nevertheless, Trump does not hide his irritation at the attitude of several countries that devote less than 2% of their GDP to the defense budget. This is the goal that the organization's members aspire to achieve in 2024. In addition to the United States, which spends about 3.6% of its GDP on military spending, five other countries reach the world. 2% target (Great Britain, Estonia, Romania, Poland and Greece). By the end of the year, Lithuania, Latvia and possibly France would be added

The first week of July, Trump wrote to Germany, Belgium, Norway and Canada to demand that They fulfill their obligations to NATO. The German Defense Minister, Ursula von der Leyen, has not been intimidated and announced that this year Germany would barely reach 1.24% of GDP and would reach that level. 2% goal in 2025.

Trump's accounting is omitted three other essential data. The sum of defense budgets of European NATO members, estimated at 240 billion US dollars, triples Russia's total military spending and is comparable to the Chinese defense effort. On the other hand, whenever Europe was trying to create an autonomous defense – which would diminish the financial participation and military presence of the United States – Washington ruthlessly torpedoed these "self-reliance" efforts. strategic "

. Third, the North American military-industrial complex exports a significant percentage of its production to NATO members.

If the dispute separating the United States and Europe is not resorbed in Brussels, the winner will wait Trump on 16. July sitting quietly in Helsinki to take advantage of this historic schism.