The Coalition of the Willing needs to show bold and deft leadership
Europe needs to unite now more than ever before with volatility in all corners of the globe. Donald Trump’s military action in Venezuela is a reminder that the global order is shifting and bold leadership is crucial if Britain and other members of the Coalition of the Willing are to prevent Europe from being undermined.
Leaders across the continent need to reinforce the need to respect international law. However, they must do so without antagonising the current US President.
America has been a long standing ally of Britain and that special relationship will outlast the presidency of Trump. However, it is clear that the capricious nature of the Trump administration means that the country cannot isolate itself from other relationships.
Whether the current President is acting as an ally to Britain remains questionable with his quest to ‘Make America Great Again’ seemingly meaning nothing is off limits.
That leaves Europe in a dangerous place, as the likes of Vladimir Putin will only be emboldened to operate further beyond the boundaries of international law.
President Trump may sound erratic when he says that “we need Greenland for national security” but his comments cannot be dismissed as fanciful talk given all that has transpired in recent days. There's a good reason why Europe is unnerved by Trump’s territorial ambitions for Greenland. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said: “If the United States chooses to attack another Nato country militarily, then everything stops.”
All the while Ukraine remains stuck in an ever tightening pincer. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer needs to use whatever influence he has with Trump to convince the US President to not sell Ukraine and indeed Europe down the river as it is clear that Putin cannot be trusted by anyone, not least the US.