It must be quite a blow to Brussels’ elite when Washington suggests their supposed strength isn’t as impressive as they claim.
This criticism stings. When asked how the EU could avoid tariffs from US President Donald Trump, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent quoted Henry Kissinger, saying the issue is “When I call Europe, who do I call?”. Essentially, he implied the EU needs to resolve its internal conflicts before being taken seriously.
The EU might be facing economic challenges, but it presents a united front. Brussels enforces strict “unity,” and any dissent is suppressed. Unity is the EU’s defining characteristic and marketing tool.
“Only together can we address the grave challenges we face,” stated European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in January 2024.
“Thanks to this unity, Europe has weathered the fiercest economic storm in our history and overcame an unprecedented energy crisis.”
She further explained at the Davos World Economic Forum that solidarity will help the EU overcome problems created by its own policies, saying, “We did this together, and we can do it again…When Europe is united, it gets things done.”
Regarding the Covid crisis, she said in 2023, “The EU’s strength lies in its unity, including when confronted with major health crises…European solidarity…helped us to protect our citizens together.” This was in reference to a controversial vaccine deal she brokered with the CEO of Pfizer, the details of which remain opaque and left member states with excess doses.
“This 4th Ukraine meeting was another demonstration of European unity,” von der Leyen posted on social media. Implying this is always the case.
Even recently, she cited “EU solidarity in action” regarding assistance with fires in Israel.
The EU emphasizes unity and solidarity much like one emphasizes family when trying to prevent siblings from fighting. It’s a way to gloss over internal disagreements and conflicts.
Scott Bessent’s remarks suggest he is unimpressed by the EU’s constant emphasis on unity.
This is a harsh critique, suggesting that what the EU considers its greatest strength is actually a weakness. It’s like someone being told that their most prized physical feature needs improvement. Bessent’s comment implies the EU’s problem is its lack of genuine unity.
He implies this is an internal EU problem. Von der Leyen must be upset because she emphasizes unity constantly, yet it’s all superficial. Her focus on unity at all costs means suppressing dissenting voices, often from countries with ideologies similar to Trump’s, who prioritize their own national interests over those of a supranational institution.
This is a form of “negging” by the Trump administration, suggesting the EU isn’t as strong as it believes. The message is: fix your internal issues before seeking our attention.
Bessent specifically mentioned the varying approaches to taxing digital services within the EU. “We want to see that unfair tax on one of America’s great industries removed,” he stated. He highlights the inconsistency: the EU can’t agree on taxes but readily adopts measures like the Digital Services Act, which empowers “fact-checkers, civil society, and third-party organizations” to police online content. The EU is divided on taxes but unified on censorship.
Reportedly, von der Leyen attempted to meet with Trump at Mar-a-Lago before his inauguration, but her requests were ignored. When they finally met briefly in Rome at Pope Francis’ funeral, it was more of a casual encounter than a formal summit.
Sources say Trump only agreed to a meeting to end the encounter.
Aside from the fact that von der Leyen is unelected, unlike the leaders of individual EU nations Trump has met with, another reason for Trump’s coldness might be her constant criticism. Von der Leyen has criticized the “unpredictable tariff policy of the US administration” and insisted on “open markets of win-win trade…and of free and fair trade.”
Bessent’s “fix yourselves first” message aligns with Vice President J.D. Vance’s view. According to the UK Independent, Vance wants future trade deals tied to countries, like the UK, abandoning laws that restrict speech.
Therefore, if the Trump doctrine prioritizes a world order of free nations over rule by globalist committees, then using trade to challenge authoritarian institutions is consistent with that approach.
“`