The relationship between the European Union and the United States during the presidency of Donald Trump has been heavily strained and intense, and the two former allies over the last two years have found the most controversy over various political and economic issues.
According to some experts, Washington views a powerful European Union as a threat to its global leadership, and this is why it tries to undermine Brussels' political and economic achievements in a variety of ways. In recent years, especially during the Trump presidency, Washington has obstructed almost any issue that Europeans have been leading in. Trumps kind of encounter with the trade agreements between two sides and the Paris climate change pact is an example of this unilateral approach ruling the White House.
** JCPOA, factor of division in transatlantic
One of the key factors in deepening the gap between Washington and Brussels is the White House's view of a nuclear deal with Iran known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). In spite of the relative opening in 2015 by signing of JCPOA in Iran's relations with the West, this trend changed from the beginning of 2017. The White House actually inflamed space by intensifying the pressure on Tehran and imposing a large part of the sanctions. Last year's Trump action to withdraw from JCPOA also was the last nail on the coffin of the nuclear deal that the European Union had spent a lot of time and energy.
It is true to say that one of the most important cases in the foreign policy of the European Union, from its inception to date, was the case of Iran's nuclear activities. According to analysts, the nuclear deal (whether in Sa'dabad in 2003 or JCPOA in 2015) was a pride and honor for the European countries, which gave them the character in the political game in the international arena.
The reason is that Europeans, through this agreement, have been able to adopt a coherent vision for an important international security policy and act as a coherent and powerful body against the United States.
Although the Sa'adabad treaty never became operational due to Washingtons obstructions, it was a political milestone for Europe, where Brussels was playing a role in signing it. That's why the union at least insists on doing whatever it takes to maintain a nuclear deal. In recent years, although Europe did not take action in practice, it has apparently shown itself keen on setting up an independent financial channel that could give Iran the incentive to continue to commit itself.
It seems that Europe is losing its honorary medal of JCPOA and is trying to implement various strategies to uphold it. In this direction, tensions between the two sides are on the rise, and even the US Secretary of State's Mike Pompeo's recent trip to Europe has failed to narrow the gap.
The New York Times, in a report, described Europe as an element trapped in the nuclear deal. As the gap between the United States and Iran increases, European countries see themselves in a difficult situation that cannot find a quick and easy solution to get rid of it.
** Escalation of divisions between former allies
The disagreement between Washington and its three major allies since the departure of America from JCPOA has increased. The United Kingdom, France and Germany still support the implementation of the JCPOA and, unlike the US demand (with a diminutive outlook for the future), are trying to find a way to compensate for US sanctions. By supporting trade with Iran, they want to make Tehran comply with the restrictions in the JCPOA.
For the same reason yesterday, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini spoke of Brussels' full commitment to the agreement with Iran and emphasized that the nuclear deal's achievements were in the interest of all sides.
In the same vein, the MSNBC reported that US European allies believe that Trump's policies are dangerous, and that's why the White House's European allies stand on the subject of Iran in opposition to Trump.
However, according to the New York Times, experts say that despite these issues, it remains unclear with what initiative Brussels wants to maintain the agreement and stand up to the United States.
** Rise of the White House's pressure on Europe
Analysts consider a wide range of differences between the transatlantic; Washington's withdrawal from some international agreements, the White House's clampdown on NATO affairs, and the neglect of EU-focused issues such as an agreement US and Russian missile defense are only part of the two sides' disagreements.
The tension between the two sides is not limited to the political and security fields, but there are also wide-range challenges in the economic and commercial spheres. It seems that after raising tariffs for Chinese goods, Trump now wants to increase European export tariffs to the United States. Earlier, the White House announced it would increase customs duties on European cars by Saturday (May 18). The European Union also announced that it would take countermeasures for in the case that new $ 23 billion commodity tariffs were implemented.
According to the Bloomberg News Network, senior US officials have considered the White House's approach to law of jungle in the minds of the US officials that has spread to the business sphere.
Trump, of course, also tries to undermine the European Union. Last year, the White House created a gap in the European squad by the card of Poland. According to the Financial Times, Washington follows a similar policy in Hungary in the same vein. A perfect ceremony for the most nationalist European leader and the agreements reached between the two sides has sent the message to European countries that Washington seeks to weaken the union.
The Daily Express believes Trump does not trust the European Union as an ally and tries to eliminate the EU. The accepted alliance of the transatlantic which sustained peace in the last 70 years has now become obscured by the distrust. American officials have argued that Trump's view of this alliance is different, and this makes the whole situation unbalanced.
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