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Obama’s pro-Europe credentials are under more scrutiny than ever Obama’s pro-Europe credentials are under more scrutiny than ever
(4 months later)
Visiting Berlin in July 2008, Barack Obama received a rock star’s welcome from tens of thousands of excited fans. Many in Germany and across Europe saw the Illinois senator – the November US presidential election was still some way off – as a political saviour after the divisive Sturm und Drang of the George W Bush years.Visiting Berlin in July 2008, Barack Obama received a rock star’s welcome from tens of thousands of excited fans. Many in Germany and across Europe saw the Illinois senator – the November US presidential election was still some way off – as a political saviour after the divisive Sturm und Drang of the George W Bush years.
Obama promised a fresh start. America was Europe’s best friend, and as president he would pursue cooperation rather than the unilateralism that produced the Iraq war. “There is a feeling in Europe that America is part of what has gone wrong in our world,” he said. And he would put that right.Obama promised a fresh start. America was Europe’s best friend, and as president he would pursue cooperation rather than the unilateralism that produced the Iraq war. “There is a feeling in Europe that America is part of what has gone wrong in our world,” he said. And he would put that right.
“Now is the time to build new bridges,” Obama declared. Allies should “listen to each other, learn from each other and, most of all, trust each other”. He promised to cut nuclear weapons, end torture, and fight climate change. “This is the moment we must come together to save this planet,” he added. “America has no better partner than Europe.”“Now is the time to build new bridges,” Obama declared. Allies should “listen to each other, learn from each other and, most of all, trust each other”. He promised to cut nuclear weapons, end torture, and fight climate change. “This is the moment we must come together to save this planet,” he added. “America has no better partner than Europe.”
Related: Barack Obama to make long-awaited appeal for Britain to stay in EU
Fast forward eight years, and as he prepares to visit London on Friday, en route to Germany from Saudi Arabia, Obama’s pro-Europe credentials are under greater critical scrutiny than ever. He remains personally popular in western Europe, according to the Pew Research Center. But his record in office is seen by many as disappointing, especially on global warming.Fast forward eight years, and as he prepares to visit London on Friday, en route to Germany from Saudi Arabia, Obama’s pro-Europe credentials are under greater critical scrutiny than ever. He remains personally popular in western Europe, according to the Pew Research Center. But his record in office is seen by many as disappointing, especially on global warming.
For British voters eyeing the June referendum on continued EU membership, Obama’s credibility is highly relevant. The president is expected to urge Britons to vote to remain in the EU. Will they pay him any heed? It is plain he feels having Britain in Europe is in America’s interest. But does he really care about Britain’s interests, and Europe’s? Or is he a hypocrite, as the London mayor, Boris Johnson, claims?For British voters eyeing the June referendum on continued EU membership, Obama’s credibility is highly relevant. The president is expected to urge Britons to vote to remain in the EU. Will they pay him any heed? It is plain he feels having Britain in Europe is in America’s interest. But does he really care about Britain’s interests, and Europe’s? Or is he a hypocrite, as the London mayor, Boris Johnson, claims?
Obama’s presidency has been dominated by two foreign policy concerns, neither of them European: ending Bush’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; and switching America’s focus to the challenges posed by China’s rise – the so-called 2012 pivot to Asia. So, for example, the increasingly aggressive posture adopted by Vladimir Putin’s Russia along Europe’s borders did not receive the attention from Washington many in Brussels believed it deserved.Obama’s presidency has been dominated by two foreign policy concerns, neither of them European: ending Bush’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; and switching America’s focus to the challenges posed by China’s rise – the so-called 2012 pivot to Asia. So, for example, the increasingly aggressive posture adopted by Vladimir Putin’s Russia along Europe’s borders did not receive the attention from Washington many in Brussels believed it deserved.
These fears climaxed with Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, the war in Ukraine, and Moscow’s 2015 military intervention in Syria, where its pro-regime bombing and disregard for civilian casualties exacerbated Europe’s refugee crisis and further destabilised its borders. Obama’s refusal, meanwhile, to wage a ground campaign to defeat Islamic State in Syria and Iraq has arguably placed European cities at greater risk of Paris and Brussels-style terrorist attacks.These fears climaxed with Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, the war in Ukraine, and Moscow’s 2015 military intervention in Syria, where its pro-regime bombing and disregard for civilian casualties exacerbated Europe’s refugee crisis and further destabilised its borders. Obama’s refusal, meanwhile, to wage a ground campaign to defeat Islamic State in Syria and Iraq has arguably placed European cities at greater risk of Paris and Brussels-style terrorist attacks.
Obama has often seemed detached, to the point of disinterest, about EU-wide problems, notably the eurozone crash and Greece’s near bankruptcy. When Edward Snowden revealed that Europe’s “best friend” was routinely tapping the cellphones of top EU leaders such as Angela Merkel, Obama seemed more irritated than contrite. In his final State of the Union address in January, he did not make a single mention of Europe or the EU.Obama has often seemed detached, to the point of disinterest, about EU-wide problems, notably the eurozone crash and Greece’s near bankruptcy. When Edward Snowden revealed that Europe’s “best friend” was routinely tapping the cellphones of top EU leaders such as Angela Merkel, Obama seemed more irritated than contrite. In his final State of the Union address in January, he did not make a single mention of Europe or the EU.
“In spite of mutual reassurances and charming summit photos, Europe and the US are becoming increasingly alienated from each other. The European public, initially inspired by Obama’s charisma, has been left cold by his performance in office. Long hoping for more continental support for its policies, Washington has become annoyed with the EU’s slow decision-making processes,” wrote Konrad Jarausch in Foreign Affairs.“In spite of mutual reassurances and charming summit photos, Europe and the US are becoming increasingly alienated from each other. The European public, initially inspired by Obama’s charisma, has been left cold by his performance in office. Long hoping for more continental support for its policies, Washington has become annoyed with the EU’s slow decision-making processes,” wrote Konrad Jarausch in Foreign Affairs.
Obama’s open exasperation with European partners was illustrated by recent remarks, when he castigated David Cameron and former French president Nicolas Sarkozy for turning Libya into a “shitshow” after their 2011 intervention to help topple Muammar Gaddafi. Obama was scathing about the EU as a whole, condemning its member states as “free riders” who do not pull their weight.Obama’s open exasperation with European partners was illustrated by recent remarks, when he castigated David Cameron and former French president Nicolas Sarkozy for turning Libya into a “shitshow” after their 2011 intervention to help topple Muammar Gaddafi. Obama was scathing about the EU as a whole, condemning its member states as “free riders” who do not pull their weight.
As British Eurosceptics prepare to lambast Obama for interfering in the referendum debate, the often-missed irony is that the US leader is not much more of an enthusiast for the EU than they are. In terms of his familial background and cultural roots, Obama is less European than any US president in recent history. Yet neither is he an Anglophile.As British Eurosceptics prepare to lambast Obama for interfering in the referendum debate, the often-missed irony is that the US leader is not much more of an enthusiast for the EU than they are. In terms of his familial background and cultural roots, Obama is less European than any US president in recent history. Yet neither is he an Anglophile.
Obama’s support for Britain’s EU membership is more a matter of perceived national self-interest and dispassionate calculation of relative advantage, rather than of heartfelt belief in the European project. In this respect at least, he and Cameron – and many British voters – can agree.Obama’s support for Britain’s EU membership is more a matter of perceived national self-interest and dispassionate calculation of relative advantage, rather than of heartfelt belief in the European project. In this respect at least, he and Cameron – and many British voters – can agree.