The old continent is wary

Europeans feel Washington tends to be arrogant and dictatorial, says VAIJU NARAVANE on the reactions to the new Bush administration.

WITH THE notable exception of the British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, European leaders are bristling over the U.S. administration's bombing of Iraq and its decision to go ahead with plans to build the National Missile Defence system (NMD). The U.S. Secretary of State, Gen. Colin Powell's attempts in Brussels earlier this week to charm the Europeans out of their sulk succeeded only partially.

Mr. Forrest McDonald, a historian with the University of Alabama, had this to say about Mr. George W. Bush in a recent interview: ``There will surely be subjects of friction between the U.S. and Europe. There is a lot of anti-Americanism in Europe at this point in time, some of it justified. President Clinton left behind several unresolved questions. It will not be easy and Europe has to decide whether it wishes to accommodate the new President or not. Let's be clear. George W. Bush has no experience in foreign affairs. But he does know how to pick intelligent advisers and is known to delegate. So I don't think we will be facing a multiple disaster situation with Bush, if the Europeans agree to work with him.''

But how willing are the Europeans to accommodate Mr. Bush? There is growing estrangement between the U.S. and the old continent on a wide variety of issues including defence, trade and politics. E.U. leaders are worried that the U.S. will fail to invest adequately in the partnership and will fail to consult Europe on crucial matters as evidenced by its recent raids against Iraq. Europe and the U.S. do not see eye to eye on issues such as the development of a European military capability and the development of a 60,000-strong Rapid Deployment Force, the withdrawal of troops from the Balkans, U.S. plans for the NMD, NATO enlargement and the attacks against Iraq.

Europe, France particularly, had some sharp words for Mr. Bush following the raids on Baghdad. ``We have long felt that there is no international legal basis for such bombings. These actions were approved by almost no one. Only Canada and Poland approved, and I do not know why. The others have expressed reprobation, criticism, questions or a sense of discomfort because there is no sense to these actions. The sanctions against Iraq made sense in the beginning but now they are only holding the population hostage. The sanctions are not working and we would like a re- definition,'' the French Foreign Minister, Mr. Hubert Vedrine, said.

European criticism of the raids on Baghdad hit home and in Brussels Gen. Powell did some adroit back-tracking. Although publicly both Britain and the U.S. continue to insist that Iraq's President, Mr. Saddam Hussein, must let U.N. weapons inspectors re-enter the country and fulfil other conditions before sanctions can be lifted, Gen. Powell did speak of re-energising or re- casting them.Europeans are worried that the U.S. will turn inwards and adopt an isolationist policy under the new President. Gen. Powell did his best to appear reassuring and consensual. ``Operation Charm'' was how many European newspapers dubbed Gen. Powell's performance in Brussels.

On a possible U.S. withdrawal from the Balkans, Gen. Powell allayed European fears saying the U.S. would fully consult its allies.

The enlargement and restructuring of NATO is an old quarrel but two new elements now make the situation more complex. First, the 15-member European Union is determined to pursue a common foreign and security policy that aims to give it increased political and military influence. The second is Europe's conviction that America under Mr. Bush will tend to act alone and in a dictatorial manner, especially over issues such as the NMD. These fears were not entirely put to rest by Gen. Powell.

Washington feels the Europeans do not pay their fair share to the Atlantic alliance and resents Europe's attempts to set up a rapid reaction force which it contends will weaken NATO. It is also angered about the E.U.'s refusal to allow non-E.U. NATO members such as Norway or Turkey to be involved in military planning.

There are differences within Europe over the E.U.'s common foreign and security policy. The British would like future European defence operations to be held under a joint NATO-E.U. command. But the French are dead set against such a proposal. Mr. Vedrine sharply reminded Gen. Powell and his counterparts that ``the only valid texts, and to which Britain is a signatory'', are those adopted during the European summit in Nice last November. The Nice agreement makes specific reference to the ``autonomy'' of European defence.

The road ahead appears bumpy. Europeans feel that the new U.S. administration is peopled with advisers who continue to have hardline reactions in keeping with the politics of the cold War. They say Washington tends to be arrogant and dictatorial and insist that the U.S. attitude has to be consultative and consensual if progress has to be made.

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