By Michelle Holt
Developing transatlantic relationships between Europe and the United States is imperative for global peace and economic development since today they share a common vision and enemies.
That”s what Frank Baker, British Counselor on foreign and security policy at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. told a lecture audience March 12, 2006. He discussed how even though the relationship might seem “opaque” to Americans it is important to understand.
Baker was sympathetic to Americans and quoted former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, “To understand Europe you have to be a genius or French.”
Transatlantic relationships have evolved into a strained relationship in the last few years, and Baker attributes this greatly to events following 9/11.
“The argument in 2002 was not about whether Saddam was running a murderous dictatorship, nor about whether he had weapons of mass destruction,” Baker said. “We all, including President Chirac in France, thought he did. It was over what to do about it. And second, the significant majority of European countries supported the Iraq war and provided assistance, either in the form of troops or logistics to help fight it.”
He then went on to say: “Before the Iraq war we focused too little on the differences among Allies, since Iraq we have focused on them too much. The transatlantic relationship has suffered because of arguments over Iraq.”
Baker said the answer to resolve this strained relationship is for the U.S. and Europe to construct a common agenda to work on. He said there is no point in having friendly relationships for the sake of friendly relationships, nor should either side walk away because it will be difficult. Europe and the United States are facing challenges “too urgent to ignore and too global and complex to face alone,” he said.
On this agenda or “new deal” Baker said Africa, climate change and the Middle East should be high on the priority list.
Baker said beyond the moral imperative, there is a security dimension that nations must unite on to help improve the poverty and human condition in Africa.
“If we are not ready to help Africa we risk more failed states, with the instability they bring [and] the threats they pose: breeding grounds for terrorism, crime, drug running and arms dealing,” Baker said.
Baker said, quoting Prime Minister Tony Blair, climate change is “the greatest environmental threat that we face.” The Greenland icecap has doubled its melting rate in the last five years, according to recent U.S. research, Baker said.
“No one country can address climate change alone. It is a global problem that needs global solutions,” Baker said.
His final point on the significance of the transatlantic relationship was the Middle East peace process, saying that it is impossible to think of stability without resolving the Arab/Israeli conflict.
“The international community is waiting to see how Hamas will respond to the heavy responsibility that the Palestinian electorate has given it,” Baker said. “But Hamas” history of violence gives us all cause for serious concern. In Europe we believe that this violence is quite simply a fundamental contradiction of the building of a democratic state. It has to stop. All factions, including Hamas, must renounce violence, recognize Israel”s right to exist and disarm.”
Baker said Europe and the U.S. share common values and have a great need to work together to solve these global problems. A developed transatlantic relationship today, he said, will pave the way for a better world tomorrow.
