Donald Trump doesn’t like the European Union and he’s not afraid to tell people. “The European Union was formed in order to screw the United States.” “The EU treats us very, very unfairly, very badly,” “They put tariffs on things that we want to do … We have some very big complaints with the EU.” His answer, of course, is tariffs, “taking back” American companies, and ignoring Europe as he reaches out directly to Moscow without bothering to consult America’s allies.

And then there’s Ukraine, where President Trump demands the Europeans follow him as he shifts policy from President Biden’s “Whatever it takes, as long as it takes” to his demand to “Stop the killing.” The problem is that neither Ukraine nor Europe seems willing to follow on Ukraine or much of anything else.

A few days ago, a French senator gave a widely quoted speech calling Trump a “traitor.” And that country’s defense minister recently said, “Europe’s problem is the unpredictability of our American partner, not the Russians.” Freidrich Merz, the incoming German chancellor added, “It is clear that [Trump] does not care much about the fate of Europe,” More bluntly, the EU’s foreign minister insisted “The free world needs a new leader.” 

Trump is often more bark than bite. But this time feels different and Europeans are scrambling not just to respond to the barking, but—maybe—to escape their usual habit of muddling through crisis after crisis. Could it be that Donald Trump will emerge as the spark that makes Europe great again?

Two former foreign ministers, Ana Palacio of Spain and Vygaudas Usackas of Lithuania, both hope so. In this episode of New Thinking for a New World they share their criticisms of Trump, but also of Europe’s past failure to act in its own interests. And they discuss what needs to be done to put Europe on a better track.

Could Trump be good for Europe? Tell us what you think and comment below.

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ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Ana Palacio, an international lawyer by training, was the first female Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain. She has held a distinguished career in public service – from leading positions in European institutions to General Counsel of the World Bank Group – she specializes in energy matters. Currently, along with leading Palacio & Associates, the European Union consultancy, Ms. Palacio sits on the corporate boards of several publicly-traded, energy-focused companies and is a member of the International Advisory Board of OCP Group (leading Moroccan fertilizer company). She also serves on the Industry Advisory Committee of the International Energy Forum, along with the External Advisory Committee of Secretary Ernest Moniz’s Energy Futures Initiative. Ms. Palacio was previously a member of the Executive Committee and Senior VP for International Affairs of Areva, leader in nuclear power and renewable energy.

Ms. Palacio is also a member of the Board and the Strategy Committee of the Atlantic Council and was the first non-American member of its Executive Committee. She has recently been appointed as a member of the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies’ Academic Council. She is a regular speaker at international conferences and a contributor to different publications, including a monthly column for Project Syndicate, and a weekly column for El Mundo (Spain). She is a visiting professor at the Edmund Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.

Vygaudas Usackas is a European and Lithuanian businessman and diplomat. He is a founder and CEO of “V.U. Business Linking LTD”, which is helping USA and European start-ups and other companies to expand globally.  Previously served for 5 years as member of the Board of Directors at Avia Solutions Group PLC, which is the largest aircraft wet lease provider globally. Before moving to international business he served as Lithuanian ambassador to USA, Mexico and UK as well as the Foreign Minister. Vygaudas Usackas last diplomatic postings were the EU ambassador to Afghanistan(2010-2013) and Russia (2013-2017).