Trump's influence on the EU: Is the transatlantic division threatened?

Trump's influence on the EU: Is the transatlantic division threatened?

On April 1, 2025, current security policy challenges in Europe will be discussed as part of the “Europe on Tuesday” event series. The relationships between Germany and France play a key role, which are considered crucial for the creation of European sovereignty. In view of the geopolitical shifts, it is emphasized that the transatlantic partnership is under pressure, in particular due to the attitude of US President Donald Trump to the Ukraine conflict. These claims were summarized by the city of Aachen in a press release, which indicates the upcoming discussion event on April 8 at 7 p.m. The expert Dr. Landry Charrier, member of a research unit at the Sorbonne and at the Global Governance Institute in Brussels and at the University of Bonn, will examine the questions of European security and the role of Germany and France in the EU.

The event takes place in the Grashaus in Aachen and is broadcast online, whereby questions from the audience are desirable. Registrations are possible free of charge on the “Europe on Tuesday” website. Organizers in the series are the Europe Direct information center, the European classroom of the Charlemagne Route and the Episcopal Academy in Aachen. The historical importance of Franco-German relationships is also evident in the context of current security policy developments.

European security in focus

The discussion on European security is carried out against the background of declining efficiency of European institutions and the need to establish strategic dialogues. The Federal Government has suggested strengthening the dialogue for the security of Europe at the beginning with France. A central theme of the debate is the founding of the Franco-German Brigade (DF-Brigade) in 1989. This was launched to strengthen European defense, but since then there have been no substantial progress. The military value of this brigade becomes clear, but its complete integration and the common use are described as not realized.

The Munich Security Conference 2023 has clearly confirmed the existing European security fear. In view of the US politics, which has been increasingly focusing on the security of Europe since the election, high-ranking US politicians, including Vice President JD Vance, are calling for more responsibility for their own defense. These challenges are in accordance with the historical efforts of a common European security architecture that repeatedly failed due to practical differences.

Franco-German defense cooperation

The Franco-German defense cooperation has become more important in the past, but is now faced with a number of challenges. While France strives for strategic autonomy and pursues global operational capacity of its armed forces, Germany remains rather reserved and focuses on state and alliance defense. These different approaches to security policy show the existing differences between the two countries that have to be overcome. Historically, from the concepts of Charles de Gaulles to the suggestions of Joschka Fischer in 2002 on European security and defense policy, the question of a joint procedure has been raised again and again.

Overall, the call for European sovereignty is getting louder. The need for a common security strategy, be it due to a national EU army or other initiatives, is up to them. For the coming years it will be crucial what progress the two leading European nations can achieve in this regard in order to ensure security in Europe and to strengthen the role of the EU in a global context. The upcoming event on April 8 in Aachen will make an important contribution to this discussion.