This appeared a few days ago:
François Hollande says Europe, abandoned by its former ally, must rearm fast
Donald Trump has shattered the principles on which the Western alliance rested, argues the former French president
Mar 7th 2025
WE NEED TO be clear: while the American people may still be our friends, the Trump administration is no longer our ally. This is grave. It marks a fundamental break with the historic relationship between Europe and America and the link established after the second world war with the creation of the Atlantic alliance. It is unfortunately, however, indisputable. It is no longer merely a question of declarations designed to dumbfound, but of actions that mark much more than a disengagement: a strategic about-turn combined with an ideological confrontation. The signs of this reversal have been accumulating in recent weeks. The bewildering and degrading scenes in the Oval Office were the illuminating culmination.
In addition to this reversal of responsibility for the outbreak of war in Ukraine, with Volodymyr Zelensky portrayed as a dictator and Vladimir Putin as a leader respectable enough to be a regular interlocutor, there has been an unrestrained attack on the principles on which the Western alliance was previously founded.
At the recent Munich Security Conference, the American vice-president, J.D. Vance, said that European countries were constraining freedom of expression if they did not allow just about anything to be posted on digital platforms and if they did not give free rein to the most reactionary forces.
Faced with this sudden turnaround, which everything suggests is irreversible, there are several possible courses of action. To accept it implies working with the logic of transactional diplomacy. It would mean following Donald Trump in his operation to carve up Ukraine, and a victory for Mr Putin with no guarantee that Russia would stop there. It would also mean that those countries in the NATO alliance that still want to benefit from the American security umbrella would be obliged to buy large quantities of American military equipment.
Another option would be to hope, through a vigorous dialogue, that France, the European Union, Britain and other countries can manage to convince Mr Trump and to demonstrate to him that it is not in America’s interest to turn Russia’s aggression against Ukraine into a precedent from which other powers could draw inspiration: China in relation to Taiwan, but also Iran in the Middle East, or North Korea in relation to South Korea.
It is the role of diplomacy to be the voice of reason and to use every argument to avoid the worst. I fear that it will not get very far. Let’s not forget that the American president tore up the Paris agreement on climate change during his first term in office, as he did with the one concerning Iran’s nuclear programme.
So we have to admit that our alliance with America is broken for the foreseeable future, and draw all the consequences. I can think of at least three.
The first is that we must continue to intensify our aid to Ukraine. This means seriously increasing the French contribution, which is currently particularly low compared with that of Germany or Britain.
The second is the need to prioritise providing Ukraine with security guarantees. It is too early to define the form these will take or to talk about the presence of soldiers on the ground. But it is clear that if Europe wants to protect its current borders, it must shoulder its share of responsibility for the security of its closest neighbour, especially if America abdicates this responsibility.
The third consequence is the urgency of accelerating European defence spending and beefing up European capabilities. To be sure, the Ukrainian conflict has led to progress in the quest for co-operation and in the co-ordination of our respective armies’ equipment. However, this progress pales into insignificance next to the scale of the threat. It is true that a European fund has been set up, but the amount remains modest and its use unclear. It is to be hoped that the European Commission gives itself a borrowing capacity to supplement the military expenditure of member states.
Clearly, Europe must agree to make additional budgetary efforts, even if France, Britain and Poland have already done a great deal, while others have remained at inappropriate levels. That said, France, Britain and Germany together spend more on defence than Russia. So it is not merely a question of the amount, but of organisation, the pooling of armaments and the integration of forces.
Let’s be frank: this “defence” cannot be achieved by a Europe of 27. Some countries are Russia’s allies, such as Hungary under Viktor Orban and Slovakia under Robert Fico. Italy under Giorgia Meloni is so closely linked to the Trump administration that she took part in the Conservative Political Action Conference, where Steve Bannon made a Nazi-style salute. Others still are so tied to America that they are not prepared to go as far as to seek autonomy within NATO. The only method that works is that of accelerated co-operation between those who are willing to act.
Finally, were there to be an even deeper misunderstanding between America and Europe, and should the American umbrella no longer be open even in stormy times, France and Britain would have to ask themselves what their vital interests mean in order to determine their doctrine on nuclear deterrence. France will never share decision-making, but it can determine its scope.
In the space of a few weeks, the threats have not changed: the aggressiveness of Mr Putin’s Russia, the ambitions of China, the rise of nationalism and the persistence of Islamist terrorism. What has changed is that we Europeans are on our own, as we have been at other times in our history, and that our main ally is now challenging the rule of law, questioning our economic and commercial interests, and supporting and encouraging extreme-right movements in the elections of our respective nations. Faced with might, we must be strong. Faced with fracture, we must be united. Faced with fear, we must be courageous. This applies to Europe, but first and foremost to France. ■
François Hollande was president of France from 2012 to 2017.
Here is the link
To me there is no doubt the world is becoming a much more dangerous place and Australia really needs to start paying even more attention than has been our usual to the world around us. Our geography really does lead to a level of complacency we need to overcome, and the time has more than come to get our defense act together!
Do you agree?
David.
1 comment:
Canada has demonstrated Trump is hollow. The western democrated countries simple need to stop all military orders with the US, NATO and other alliances have been a cash cow for the US. Turn off the cashflow and watch Trump get destroyed. However the damage is done, the US as a global superpower will wane, I would say in 20-30 years it will be wear Britain ranks currently
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