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EU struggles to contact Trump amid individual member state deals
Following the US elections, Ursula von der Leyen attempted to contact Donald Trump, proposing increased EU LNG imports. However, Trump hasn't responded, while other EU leaders met him, leading to Italy potentially using Starlink despite EU's own satellite network plans.
- How do individual interactions between EU member states and Trump affect the EU's overall negotiating strategy and its unity?
- The EU's approach to contacting Trump, described as 'with cap in hand', contrasts with individual EU member states' actions. While Von der Leyen sought a collaborative approach, leaders like Meloni met Trump separately, potentially impacting the EU's collective bargaining power. This highlights a tension between the EU's unified stance and individual member states' pursuit of bilateral deals.
- What is the primary challenge in establishing communication and cooperation between the EU and the newly inaugurated President Trump?
- Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, attempted to contact Donald Trump for a meeting or call, but received no response. Following the US elections, a brief contact occurred where Von der Leyen suggested increased EU liquefied natural gas imports from the US, an attempt to initiate cooperation. However, subsequent communication has been absent despite other EU leaders meeting with Trump.
- What are the potential long-term consequences of the EU's approach to dealing with Trump, particularly considering the actions of individual member states like Italy?
- The EU's strategy of prioritizing deal-making over condemnation of Trump's statements, used successfully during his first term, is continued into his second term. However, this strategy risks being undermined by individual EU members pursuing separate agreements with Trump, potentially weakening the EU's overall negotiating position and allowing Trump to exploit divisions within the EU. Italy's potential deal with Starlink exemplifies this risk.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The narrative frames Trump's reluctance to engage with Von der Leyen negatively, emphasizing the EU's attempts to contact him and highlighting instances where other EU leaders had more success in meeting with Trump. The headline, while neutral, is presented within a context that largely portrays Trump's behavior as problematic and dismissive of the EU. The focus on Trump's individual dealings with other EU leaders (e.g. Meloni and Orbán) underscores a lack of unified EU approach.
Language Bias
While largely neutral in its language, the article uses phrases like 'met de pet in de hand' (with cap in hand) to describe the EU's approach, implying a submissive posture. This could be replaced with a more neutral description of the EU's diplomatic strategy. The repeated use of words like 'dreiging' (threat) regarding Trump's statements could be softened by focusing on his policies and their potential impacts.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the strained relationship between the EU and Trump, particularly concerning communication attempts by Von der Leyen. However, it omits discussion of other significant global issues or areas of potential cooperation between the EU and the US during Trump's second term. This omission could lead to a skewed perception of the relationship, neglecting broader contexts of diplomacy and collaboration.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a false dichotomy by framing the EU's approach to Trump as a choice between either appeasing him through deals or openly criticizing him. It overlooks the possibility of other strategies, such as multilateral collaborations involving other world powers to address common challenges.
Gender Bias
The article primarily focuses on male political leaders (Trump, Orbán, Macron, Meloni) and their interactions, while Von der Leyen's perspective is presented but less prominently. While there is no explicit gender bias in the language used, the disproportionate focus on male actors might inadvertently reinforce traditional power dynamics.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights the difficulties in establishing effective communication and partnerships between the EU and the US president, hindering collaboration on various issues. The lack of response from President Trump to EU outreach, particularly from Ursula von der Leyen, and the separate deals struck by individual EU countries (e.g., Italy with Starlink) exemplify a breakdown in coordinated EU-US partnerships, undermining the potential for mutually beneficial agreements and joint action on global issues.