Henry Olsen
If the United States and Europe were a married couple, you would probably say they are headed for a divorce. Like that couple, the two long-time partners could resolve their differences and renew their vows.
Doing that would require an honest discussion, however, of why they got together in the first place and how they have drifted apart over the years. That will require a painful re-examination, one that is by no means assured of justifying continuing the relationship.
The US-Europe transatlantic partnership dates back to the end of the Second World War. That’s an eternity in geopolitical terms. Most alliances last a few years, perhaps a couple of decades at most.
That long duration was not an accident. The partnership is touted today as one based on common, liberal democratic values.
But it was launched at a time when many of the founding members either were not liberal democracies (Turkey, Portugal) or had only recently re-established democratic regimes following extended periods of authoritarian rule (West Germany, Italy, Greece). Most other active participants had been conquered by Nazi Germany and were also re-establishing democracies.
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