They’re Not Our Friends

The editors of the Wall Street Journal point out, correctly in my view, that the Europeans have pre-announced their disinterest in rebuilding ties with the U. S.:

Democracies have to deal with unsavory countries, but this is an especially bad time to reward Chinese leadership with a de facto endorsement. The last year brought new revelations about Beijing’s repression of minorities—notably Uighur Muslims—and the crackdown in Hong Kong has escalated. Beyond Australia, China’s “wolf warrior” diplomats threaten critics around the world, and Europeans are no exception.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel dismissed concerns from some smaller EU countries in a late push for the CAI. But her “change through trade” mantra is out of date. We once hoped that would be true too, but China’s predatory behavior is a special case. Germany’s political class, including her own center-right party, is increasingly skeptical of Chinese aggression. The Green Party is perhaps Germany’s most hawkish on China, and even some Social Democrats want a stronger stance.

This new political reality recently led Berlin to place restrictions on Chinese telecom provider Huawei, which poses a security risk. But a comprehensive EU ban on Huawei in European 5G would be better, and it’s possible with determined effort from the bloc’s biggest states.

The investment agreement’s ratification is far from guaranteed. Both sides still have to finalize the text, which needs approval from the European Parliament and every European head of state or government. Finding a way to kill the deal, and start a new negotiation alongside Europe and the U.S., is an early test for Mr. Biden’s promise to rebuild America’s alliances.

The countries of continental Europe have never been our friends. We’ve been their patrons for the last 80 years but many, especially France and Germany, have chafed at that relationship. The Brits were our friends for many years but it was a different Britain then. Will the new United Kingdom reassert the “special relationship” between our countries or will it prefer to be non-aligned? I honestly have no idea.

I sincerely hope the Biden Administration reaches the conclusion, undoubtedly kicking and screaming, that we have no friends among other nations. We have enemies, rivals, competitors, “hostile non-belligerents”, and clients but no friends. Maybe they will grow to question as I do why we continue to patronize countries that aren’t our friends. The editors hit it on the nose: “democracies have to deal with unsavory countries”. But “dealing” isn’t the same as “subsidizing”.

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