aFrom his gravel baritone and his attempts to rearrange a world like Tetris’ pieces, Henry Kissinger is probably best known for something he’s probably never said. The questions first raised in the Rotary Phone era remain unanswered in the Zoom era. It’s time for Europe to propose a single interlocutor for the outside world. Soon, peace negotiations on the war in Ukraine could take place under still unclear circumstances. Given that we are at risk, Europe is desperately and legitimately holding table seats. But to be included, Vladimir Putin (representing the interests of his tyrannical Russian regime), Donald Trump (representing Donald Trump’s), and possibly Volodimia Zelensky (Ukraine). You need to put someone who can take a photo on it. Those who cannot sit in a European chair are easy to do in the eyes of sects or other occupations. It’s difficult to come up with a possible name.
In 40 countries that don’t agree much, the usual answer is that Europe will send multiple people to represent its interests. This time it’s not an option. For better or worse (and mostly worse), Trump is a guide to the talks, and his early suffering has begun, with the exception of opinions and expressions from Saudi Arabia’s Ukraine and Europe. If he chooses to include Europe, he rarely gives multiple seats to the table. Ukraine asked Europe to find a single name, but stopped saying who it was.
The least controversial answer may be to look at the European Union’s top brass. One of its “presidents” (there are many), one of the Councils of Europe, aims to represent the EU at the state level. However, nominating new incumbent Antonio Costa would segregate the UK, a major source of Ukraine’s support, which is barely expressed by the grandeur of the EU. Former Portuguese Prime Minister, Costa is essentially a backroom operator. Taking the job of envoy hinders the daily meeting of chairs of EU leaders. It doesn’t help that Trumpers keep EU institutions lightly empty. This also excludes Ursula von der Reyen, another EU president (of the European Commission).
The obvious candidate for the Euromantle is one of its national leaders. Jobs have fallen on Angela Merkel, the prime minister of Europe’s wealthiest country and the most troublesome compromise broker for more than a decade. But it will take several months for her successor, Friedrich Merz to make the whole coalition together after the election on February 23rd, and he has plenty on his plate.
France is the next largest country after Europe. Emmanuel Macron has a strong argument for Mr. Europe’s work. He dealt with Trump during his first term and showed a decent relationship in a meeting with him at the White House on February 24th. Like Russia and the United States, France is a nuclear militants with permanent seats on the UN Security Council. Macron’s vision that Europe needs “strategic autonomy,” that is, America appears to be foresighted considering recent events. Political turmoil at home can give Macron more time to concentrate on diplomacy. His main flaw is that the Hawks in Northern and Central Europe do not trust him much in Russia, at least more than anything. He wanted to hold a “strategic dialogue” about security before 2022. Macron made an effort to engage in those countries. Sometimes they sounded just like them, for example, by being one of the first to suggest that European troops should be sent to Ukraine.
Opponents of Macron may plump because of Donald Task, the Polish prime minister and former president of the Council of Europe. His country has a sharp grasp of the threats of Russia. He spends his time defending the country (as a share of GDP) that plays with Trump people a lot. However, Poland excludes the deployment of troops to Ukraine, and has a sometimes-bound relationship with its leadership. Tass was unnaturally lightly paraded while Trump was away. He may share foreign policy oversight with the Polish president, which will be replaced in June, and may not share Tass’ views. Paul has the opposite problem to Macron. Western Europeans do not want Carte Blanche, the most Takis, to act on their behalf.
What about the leaders of other major powers? Spain is far from Ukraine, and its prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, is not one of its most vocal supporters. Keir Starmer ir believes that the UK could become a “bridge” with America, but Brexit isolated it in Europe. Giorgia Meloni is an ideological ally of the President of the United States. However, she has yet to solve how to become both Procrane and Pro Trump. It would have been a typical euro race to send respected leaders from small countries like Petr Pavel, the Czech president, who became a retired general. Trump will undoubtedly begin the proceedings by underestimating the consensus pick. (“Who is this guy anyway?”)
Mr. Europe
Macron looks like a wise choice. He wants to work and has already convened a group of European leaders in Paris. He emphasized that he would broadly consult with fellow big names ahead of his three-hour chat with Trump this week. People who don’t understand his geopolitical instincts may propose a supreme to balance them. Kaja Karas, an Estonian from Hawkish who leads the EU’s foreign policy division, said in a preliminary meeting he will create a great representative in the face of the US Secretary of State. It is part of European history and its charm, and cannot be easily suggested to act for everyone. But it’s like the luxury that comes mainly from being soft power, and these are intense times. Europeans must realize that having a single envoy at the negotiation table is better than fighting far away from it. ■
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