Sovereignty and the inviolability of borders are the main pillars of the European project, built on the ruins of World War II, when the aggressive imperialism of the great powers caused millions of deaths.
As if Europeans needed another clear sign of President Trump’s low regard for them, his mocking demeanor and rejection of criticism at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, was a stark reminder. But Davos also taught Europe another lesson. By standing united on the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty and warning of severe economic measures against the United States, Europeans managed to force Trump to back down on Greenland.
Sovereignty and the inviolability of borders are the main pillars of the European project, built on the ruins of World War II, when the aggressive imperialism of the great powers caused millions of deaths. The lesson was clear: the collective defense of borders is the only way to protect small states from attacks by larger ones.
Now Europe is once again confronted by great powers with expansionist ambitions. Russia continues its efforts to invade Ukraine, whose sovereignty Moscow has recognized in numerous treaties. And the US has demanded that Denmark, an EU and NATO ally, hand over Greenland. But defending territorial integrity and sovereignty is a clear red line, clearly expressed by the European Union and NATO. It may seem idealistic in today’s world to defend international law, the UN Charter and the Helsinki Accords, but in a sense, this is Europe’s destiny.
THE CONTINENT IS LEARNING THE IMPORTANCE OF SOVEREIGNTY
“The idea that borders can be challenged by force is untenable, and the show of force has threatened the foundations of European security since the end of World War II,” said Ian Lesser, head of the German Marshall Fund’s Brussels office. “The war in Ukraine brought this to the fore,” he added. But the fact that the United States, the main guarantor of European security, is challenging the concept of sovereignty and territorial integrity is a serious concern.
Mark Leonard, director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, argued that the continent is learning the importance of sovereignty in the face of challenges from great powers such as China, Russia and the US. “Most of European history since the Second World War has been about defending sovereignty and uniting it in multilateral institutions,” he said. But the new world is fundamentally changing the nature of the EU.
Europeans understand that they cannot defend the old rules-based global order, but they can ensure that it survives within Europe. That is why Ukraine and Greenland matter. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was praised for a speech at Davos in which he said that the old international order is dead. “Middle-class” countries like Canada and Europe must forge new alliances as great powers abandon post-war norms and treaties and use economic integration as a weapon, financial infrastructure as leverage, and supply chains as vulnerabilities to exploit. “When the rules no longer protect you, you have to protect yourself,” Carney said.
EUROPE IS ABSORBING THIS LESSON
The Europeans have rejected Trump’s demands that Ukraine hand over territory to Russia that Moscow has not occupied. They have insisted that even if a peace deal would allow Russian troops to remain in 20 percent of Ukraine, that occupation would never be recognized as permanent, including Crimea. The Europeans have offered more money and military aid to Ukraine than the United States, partly covering the funding gap after Trump’s decision to cut it off. They recently agreed to 90 billion euros in aid for Kiev.
Even in the face of Trump’s demands for Greenland, Europeans have shown solidarity with Denmark and have pushed Trump to back down. French President Emmanuel Macron spoke for many Europeans when he said: “Europe already has very powerful tools, and we must use them.” Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever was more blunt. “There are so many red lines being crossed. To be a happy vassal in one thing, and a miserable slave in something else, makes no sense.”
“The experience with Trump has taught Europe that the policy of first impressions has failed, and standing up for fundamental principles is vital,” said a senior European official. In essence, he admitted: you always need a ‘gun in your pocket.’ That was the case with Denmark and Greenland. For weeks, European leaders hoped that Trump would back down from his idea of taking over Greenland, but he threatened even heavier tariffs. The European Union organized an emergency summit immediately after Davos.
In the face of Trump’s threats, the Europeans suspended a pending trade deal and prepared 93 billion euros in retaliatory measures against American products. The prospect unsettled markets and, according to Leonard, seemed to sway Trump and his aides, showing that the Europeans were serious. Trump, during discussions with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, backed down and scrapped the tariffs he had said he would impose. The president declared victory, but the real winners were the Europeans, defending the basic principle: no border changes without the approval of the countries involved.
After the EU summit, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said the recent threats taught a tactical lesson for the United States. Resoluteness, interoperability, preparedness and unity had worked. “That is why we must maintain this approach,” she added. “Small European states, such as the Baltics and the Nordics, are deeply concerned about the attack on sovereignty by great powers,” said Jana Puglierin of the European Council on Foreign Relations. “This is the end of their business model. It is the foundation of the European Union and the post-war order, where every country has a vote, regardless of size.” (The New York Times)