European Divisions Persist on Iraq and Foreign Policy Ahead of Bush's Visit

Strategic Insights -

President Bush will encounter a divided Europe as he arrives in Brussels on February 20, with NATO's European allies still holding a range of views on issues like the Iraq war and the use of military force. While polls suggest that the European public has warmed to the idea of a new era of friendship with the United States, officials caution that old antagonisms will not be easily healed. Despite Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's charm-infused visit to Europe in January, some officials and analysts remain skeptical that the trans-Atlantic alliance has shifted fundamentally.

Key Takeaways:

  • The European Union is poised to lift its 15-year arms embargo on China this summer, a move opposed by the Bush administration. (1)
  • The European Union will press Mr. Bush to support the European initiative with Iran that envisions rewards if Iran gives up important nuclear activities, an approach the United States rejects. (2)
  • NATO is expected to announce that all 26 members are contributing at least something to the reconstruction of Iraq, but the mission is short of soldiers in the country. (3)
  • The European Union is willing to train 770 Iraqi judges, prosecutors, and criminal investigators outside Iraq, but is short of funds to pay for the training. (4)
  • President Bush will be the first president to hold a summit meeting with the European Commission, the executive body of the 25-country European Union. (5)
  • The European Union has not committed the resources necessary for the military muscle that would back up a distinctive foreign policy. (6)
  • Chancellor Gerhard Schroder of Germany has called the 56-year-old NATO alliance "no longer the primary venue where trans-Atlantic partners discuss and coordinate strategies." (7)

Statistics:

  • Only 11% of French and Germans approve of Mr. Bush's handling of foreign affairs. (8)
  • The population of the European Union is 458 million, far exceeding that of the United States. (9)
  • The European Union is the world's largest and most powerful economic bloc. (10)

Sources:

  • The New York Times - "Europe Divided on Iraq and Foreign Policy Ahead of Bush's Visit" (11)