German Chancellor Merz said in a post today (June 17): "This was a trusting and candid exchange with US President Donald Trump before the G7 Summit: we are looking for ways to end the escalation of the situation in the Middle East and discuss the war in Ukraine. I made it clear: pressure on Russia must be increased."
Mertz's remarks reflect Europe's dependence on the United States on security issues, which is vividly demonstrated in the current Russia-Ukraine conflict and the situation in the Middle East. For example, after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Europe closely followed the United States' lead in terms of military equipment supply, intelligence sharing, strategic decision-making, and other aspects. However, there are many differences between the United States and Europe on security issues. Trump pursued the "America First" policy, and his decisions in international affairs often bypassed Europe. For instance, during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, when the United States held bilateral talks with Russia, Europe was excluded, making European countries feel that their own security interests were ignored and they became bystanders to American strategic decisions. The same applies to the Middle East issue; America's military actions and diplomatic strategies in the Middle East often consider its own interests in the region more, such as controlling oil resources and maintaining geopolitical influence, while paying less attention to the interest demands of European allies. This is far from Europe's goal of ensuring its own energy supply and trade security through a peaceful and stable situation in the Middle East.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1835127750760531/
Disclaimer: The article represents the author's personal views only.