The imploding Europe

The reality is contrary to the perceptions we have inherited from generations to generations.

The United States and Europe cannot be seen as one unit. Former US President Donald Trump used to publicly berate European states for not paying their bills at NATO. On multiple press conferences and social media platforms, he said that since the United States pays more than its fair share, it deserves the right to call the shots at the Alliance.

He was happy when the United Kingdom pulled out of the European Union.

Attempts were made to cobble together the western alliance in the wake of the Russian attack on Ukraine. Opposition to Russia was played up so that intra- and intercontinental conflicts in Europe and the United States may settle down like bubbles on the beach.

But it has not worked. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continues issuing frantic appeals to Europe and Washington to do the real thing that can help him get his areas back from Russia. Nonetheless, the United States and Europe could not be able to make a joint front.

In a bid to be more responsive to Ukrainian needs, Finland and Sweden have also been vying to become a NATO member.

Turkey, however, is not willing to accept them in NATO as long as they act upon an agreement denoting that the two countries will not support Kurdish separatists and hand over to Turkey the people that the latter dubs a threat to its government. The two Nordic countries could not be on NATO until and unless all of its 30 members including Turkey approve their entry.

Simultaneously, Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz has taken upon himself to visit China, regardless of the pro-Russian stance that China has adopted on the war in Ukraine.

Chancellor Scholz is going to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has recently secured a third five-year term in office.

Since becoming the president, Xi has single-mindedly expanded Chinese trade to unexplored markets. Over a decade, China has not engaged in any armed conflict with anyone as it has zeroed in on acquiring sustainability.

This sustainability is considered a big threat by powers like the US, who have formed alliances against China. Recently, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia have formed a big alliance to keep watch on the Indo-Pacific Ocean, especially the South China Sea region. It has included no European country in the core alliance. France was supposed to provide strategic submarines to Australia but Washington threw the only European country out of the deal unceremoniously. French ministers registered their protest to Australia for taking the US submarines and other equipment after having a kind of agreement with France. European Union members backed France on this matter. Despite all that, the US submarines have been released to the ocean close to China for the avowed purpose of monitoring international waters.

Germany is among the very few countries that have their Indo-Pacific Ocean policies. This policy requires Germany to monitor the troubled waters of this ocean in collaboration with Japan and India. The policy has frequent mention of India in its draft. Even then, Indian think tanks mock Germany for the smaller size of its navy. Much of their dislike for Germany is grounded in the fact that Germans consider Kashmir as a disputed territory and openly states so, calling for an UN-sponsored solution.

In addition, the previous German ambassador Jan Kecker was found dead in Beijing. Hecker was very close to former German Chancellor Angela Markel.

But none of these negatives have stopped Scholz from becoming the first European leader to visit China since the outbreak of COVID-19.

Like China, Germany too gives greater value to its trade. Scholz said that he will have a “candid” talk with Xi on all issues shortly after the not-so-candid visit of the US government office-holders to Taiwan. China had repeatedly warned the US senators against visiting Taiwan and increased the presence of its armed forces in the region at the time of the visit.

In the face of a storm of criticism, Scholz says that “China is changing” and so should be Europe. He said it is not the China of 10 years ago.

Germany has also made mega business deals with China in the face of criticism from European allies who see these deals as short-term goals that will jeopardize long-term objective of European sustainability.

Some European leaders are convinced that Ukraine should be the single-point agenda to take up with China.

On his part, President Xi also did not let anything come in the way of increasing business and consolidating ties with Germany.

Every country runs its course alone but at the same time it also tries to be in step with the world. Politicians in Pakistan understand this reality as it is just like what they practice themselves to stay relevant.

But then they have to kick open the cans of worms for their opponents, creating imaginary opponents. Public tends to hearken to their simplistic arguments in the zeal to find a one-point solution to all their problems. It suits both the leaders and public to find that someone else in the west is responsible for the ills they are facing.

If things keep on moving as they are, our coming generations will also end up fighting with the imaginative enemies.

The writer teaches mediatization at International Islamic University Islamabad