Commentary
Judy Dempsey
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Source: Getty
Commentary
Obama's Re-election
The re-election of Obama means one thing for Europe: the need for more Europe, not less.
By Judy Dempsey
Published on Nov 7, 2012
The re-election of Obama means one thing for Europe: the need for more Europe, not less. Obama has far too many foreign policy issues to deal with during his second term, and Europe is not one of them. This means that the EU and NATO have to take a hard look at how they are going to deal with a new order across the Atlantic that was already taking shape during Obama’s first administration.
For NATO it means accepting the fact that the United States is not going to keep picking up the pieces. The Pentagon has not forgotten NATO’s mission in Libya. Either NATO responds to that new reality or it will become a mere tool-box, and often inadequately equipped, for America’s coalitions of the willing.
As for the EU, it should realize that it is going to have limited influence outside the bloc as long as it does not have strategic goals. That will only happen once the member states realize that pooling sovereignty will make Europe more secure and stronger. That may revive America’s interest.
About the Author
Judy Dempsey
Nonresident Senior Fellow, Carnegie Europe
Judy Dempsey is a nonresident senior fellow at Carnegie Europe
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Judy Dempsey
Recent Work
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
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