The Transatlantic Alliance Needs Strong Partners, Not Sentimentality

Originally published by RealClear World

President Donald Trump’s address at the World Economic Forum in Davos was predictably met with a mix of applause, skepticism, and outright hostility, particularly over one flashpoint: Greenland. But reducing the speech to a single geopolitical controversy misses its broader significance. At Davos, Trump delivered not only a familiar defense of his economic record, but also a more revealing message about how he sees America’s relationship with Europe and the future of the transatlantic alliance.

“I am derived from Europe,” the President said, citing his Scottish and German ancestry. “We care about the people of Europe … We believe deeply in the bonds we share with Europe as a civilization.” These remarks stood out in a speech that came to focus heavily on topics of trade, energy, and security. But it makes a deeper point about how the administration’s engagement with Europe is not meant to be transactional, or superficial, but rooted in the sense of shared historical and cultural inheritance. For the European audience, this is a window into how the President situates himself within story of Western civilization, indicative as well of how many Americans feel a deep bond with their European heritage. But that isn’t the only hinge our partnerships rest on.

President Trump framed his critique of Europe as a call for renewal and partnership. He pointed to declining energy security, rigid trade frameworks, uncontrolled migration, and weak growth as long-term vulnerabilities. The issues he spotlighted are foundational weaknesses that undermine civil society and, by extension, the security of our entire alliance, namely NATO.

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