Europe Talks About Trump Behind His Back
Kiev is making preparations for another EU summit, but what can the EU do now? Within the past 24 hours, the presidents and the prime ministers of the EU member states met in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, in Malta. Much becomes apparent through this island's example. It was in Malta that the then future queen, Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, started their family. Obviously, he served at the British naval base there, as Malta was Britain's colony. Back then, NATO's Allied Forces Mediterranean command was established there. Then, Malta gained independence from the British Empire. During the Cold War, when the Soviet Mediterranean fleet had the island in its sights, it saw the first crack in the Western alliance. Malta demanded the withdrawal of both British and NATO troops, choosing a comfortable neutrality. In that regard, it is interesting to see what is happening around another eminent English lady, Theresa May, the incumbent British PM. Last week she was the first foreign leader to meet Trump. Now, on the verge of leaving the EU, May still attends its Malta summit. It appears that she has a message from Trump, which is as follows: If you, Europeans, want to continue having influence on international politics, those of you who are NATO members have to spend on the military the minimally required 2% of GDP. The British, who deliver the message, but before that had lost their empire, know what they are saying. And they do allocate 2% to the military to remain in the big leagues. What about Continental Europe? The vast majority have their heads in the sand. Perhaps, they resent Trump, but appear to expect him to continue taking them under his wing, as they are. If it is so, what possible influence can Europe have on Ukrainian matters and other issues? At the same time, even in the UK there are plenty of "Europeans" who do not consider it necessary. We will show you a striking, even by Westminster standards, excerpt from the debates held in the House of Commons this week. We will add subtitles for you to hear the intonation.
