FLASH
Shkruar nga Pierre Haski
Europe is caught between two fires: between the Russian "hammer" and the "anvil" of the Trump administration. As Washington declares ideological "war" on European rules and openly supports divisive forces on the continent, Brussels faces the most difficult test of its existence: how to survive in a world where the old ally is turning into the most unpredictable adversary...
A clear symbol of the profound turmoil the world is expected to experience during 2026 are the unexpected sanctions imposed by the Trump administration on former European Commissioner Thierry Breton and four other senior European leaders just before Christmas.
This act marked an unprecedented gesture of hostility between countries that were historically considered allies, or rather, that “theoretically” should have been. Reactions in France and across the continent were immediate, reflecting a sense of betrayal and uncertainty.
These sanctions carry a largely ideological burden, based on a strict American concept of freedom of expression, which is closely linked to the interests of the technology oligarchs who today constitute the cornerstone of the US economy.
Washington's arguments faithfully follow the lines of the harsh speech that JDVans gave in Munich earlier this year, where the US vice-president openly accused the Europeans of "deliberately obstructing freedom of expression."
The same radical stance is reflected in the strategic document published in December by the Trump administration, which warned in almost apocalyptic tones that if it does not change course, Europe risks "the complete disappearance of its civilization."
The shock this division has caused is extraordinary at every stage. The punitive measures against former Commissioner Breton, who is accused by Washington of leading a “censorship industrial complex,” had the effect of a strong electric shock on the eve of the holidays.
It is now clear that a painful divorce is taking place between the Trump administration and Europe's liberal democracies, even though European leaders seem to have never anticipated such an outbreak of diplomatic violence.
Europeans have known for years, since the Obama presidency, that the United States had turned its strategic attention towards Asia and especially towards China, seeing it as the main rival, while the old continent was gradually losing its global importance.
However, Trump has gone much further than his predecessors: he seems to want the dissolution of the European Union, constantly repeating his (fact-free) thesis that this union was created with the sole purpose of "exploiting and destroying the United States."
As a result, Europe today finds itself in a dangerous paradox: its main military protector is at the same time the force that wants to destroy it politically. Europeans were not at all prepared for such an evolution, which is proven by their double and irrefutable dependence: on the one hand, dependence on American technology (which dominates the market after Europe failed in the recent digital revolutions) and, on the other, vital dependence for defense within NATO structures.
Efforts to limit damage
By the end of 2025, whether in their support for Ukraine or in their complex transatlantic relations, Europeans are finally realizing that the world has fundamentally changed and that this change is not happening in their favor.
The European Union finds itself today in an extremely vulnerable position, trapped "between two fires": Russia's unstoppable aggression from the East and the open hostility of the United States from the West.
The big problem for the 27 member states is that such structural dependencies cannot be eliminated overnight, as they take decades to fix. Consequently, they will have to find a way to coexist with the Trump administration, while trying hard to limit further damage as much as possible.
This is also why the response to the American attacks is so complicated and, inevitably, will cause disappointment in European public opinion that demands more dignity.
A real litmus test for 2026 will be the protection of digital law, the very legislation for which former Commissioner Breton was sanctioned. On December 24, the European Commission was forced to publicly defend this regulation, emphasizing that it was adopted by sovereign states and a parliament elected by universal suffrage.
But Trump's attack on the EU is not expected to stop there; Washington is demanding a complete capitulation of Europe, as demanded by Silicon Valley interests. The second and more delicate test will be direct political intervention.
The US administration is now openly supporting far-right parties in Europe, which it describes as "patriotic" forces, and hopes to help them come to power and weaken the unity of Brussels.
Therefore, Europe should no longer harbor any illusions: this divorce with the US will be a savage, cold one, and without any diplomatic "gifts."/ Adapted from "Pamphlet", taken from "France Inter"
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