LONDON – Over the centuries, “the West” has come to represent much more than a geographic region. It now embodies the enduring legacy of ancient Greece and the Roman Empire, the cultural achievements of the European Renaissance, the evolution of political philosophy, and the spirit of exploration and discovery.
Since the end of World War II, however, the term has taken a more explicitly geopolitical and security-oriented meaning. From the mid-1940s until the fall of the Berlin Wall, Europe and its allies often defined themselves not only by their shared ideals but also by their opposition to the Soviet Union.
US President Donald Trump, in one of his many inane remarks about history and global affairs, claimed that the European Union was established to “screw” the United States. In fact, the opposite is true.
After 1945, Europeans were eager for America to remain actively involved rather than turn inward, as it had after World War I. Left to their own devices, European countries risked drifting into yet another conflict, potentially forcing the US to intervene again to restore peace. To prevent that, European leaders urged the US to maintain its presence on the continent as a bulwark against the growing threat of Soviet communism.
In response, the US encouraged Europe to pursue greater economic and political integration, leading to the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community and, eventually, the European Common Market. Both were seen by the US as essential to ensuring long-term peace and prosperity among its transatlantic allies and preventing the continent from impoverishing itself through trade wars and protectionist policies.
No comments:
Post a Comment