🇫🇷🇺🇸 FLASH – Si la France et l'Europe ne font rien face à Trump, "nous allons être écrasés", estime François Bayrou. pic.twitter.com/KtnzllXWDf
— AlertesInfos (@AlertesInfos) January 20, 2025
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Paralysed Europe In The Face Of Trump? Bayrou Calls For Awakening
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On January 20, Donald Trump officially took office for a second term. While the party was in full swing in Washington, across the Atlantic, Europe wonders: “Is the European Union ready to face the Trump storm?” The answer, for now, seems as murky as a cloud of smoke. It is not so much Trump himself that worries, but the policies he deploys, with “dollars” and economic threats.
France and Europe face a more threatening Donald Trump than ever
As Donald Trump begins his term under controversial auspices, Europe, on its knees, is starting to seriously question itself. François Bayrou was one of the first to sound the alarm, warning that France and the EU could be “crushed“ under the weight of the economic and geopolitical decisions made by the White House.
And he is not wrong: with policies as aggressive as Trump’s, old Europe could well find itself marginalized in the world order.
Where the United States seems to want to impose control over everything, from research to industry, Europe struggles to adopt a clear line. The balance of power is likely to shift in favor of Washington, notably thanks to the use of the dollar as an instrument of dominance.
“If we do nothing, we will be dominated,” Bayrou said, somewhat despairingly. Europe must react, but therein lies the trap: European cohesion is sorely lacking.
Indeed, like Bayrou, Dominique de Villepin shares this sense of urgency. The former Prime Minister worries about a Europe ready to become Trump’s “vassal”, instead of remaining the key actor that it has been.
A Europe searching for itself, divided between its major economic players like Germany and Italy, and other nations closer to Trump’s ideological line. European unity, a concept that seems increasingly outdated…
The Trump bulldozer and its weapon: the dollar
Under Trump’s second term, it is clear that the dollar will continue to play a central role in the global economic arena. On inauguration day, the first signs are already there: the greenback seems to be gaining the upper hand over the euro, and it is not just a matter of market fluctuations.
No, America is betting on its currency to impose a hegemony that does not speak its name.
The United States, with its industrial and trade policies, intends to maintain constant pressure on the EU. And this is not just a story about exchange rates. Tariffs, regulations, everything is made to favor American interests. In the meantime, global markets are already adjusting to the rise of the dollar, and it is not without consequences.
Europe, increasingly fragmented, seems to be lagging behind, and the idea of a “deal” with Trump, notably on defense, encounters internal resistance.
While the European Commission has planned a response “alternating between stick and carrot “, this strategy, despite its promise of counter-sanctions, remains fragile. If European unity does not manifest quickly, the divergences within the Twenty-Seven may reduce it to a mere spectator. Whether in trade, diplomatic, or even military fields, Europe seems to be on the defensive.
A European response in disarray: is unity still possible?
The stakes are high: under Trump, the United States are not just a trading partner of Europe; they are becoming a dominant force. But is the European Union ready to react coherently? On one hand, countries like Germany or Italy, with their trade surpluses with the United States, may be more inclined to compromise with Washington.
On the other hand, nations like France, traditionally more cautious, are urging for a tougher stance.
The French Commissioner Stéphane Séjourné has mentioned the possibility of a “deal” with Trump, but the price to pay could be too high. European security guarantees within NATO could well be negotiated in exchange for trade concessions.
However, to succeed in imposing a united front, Europe must first rid itself of its internal divergences. This task is not simple, as political tensions are becoming increasingly evident.
The specter of disunity looms over the EU. While some member states are drawing closer to Trump’s line, notably due to their similar ideologies, European cohesion is eroding. The decline of European unity would be a victory for Trump and his administration, who will not hesitate to exploit the gaps to strengthen their own power.
To hammer the point home, Jorge Dezcallar de Mazarredo, former head of the Spanish intelligence services, warns against a possible disappearance of Europe from the global top 10 by then. A prospect that could become a reality if Europe does not quickly find the strength to resist the economic and political pressures imposed by the Trump administration.
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