Brussels – European Union-United States, an increasingly complex and also increasingly embarrassing relationship, at least in terms of how the EU Commission decides to manage—or not—the Trump administration’s moves. After failing to condemn the military operations in Venezuela and the way in which the United States has kidnapped President Nicolas Maduro, Brussels is unable to take a position even on the raid that led to the seizure of Russian shadow ships in international waters, about 200 kilometres off the coast of Iceland.
The international press asks whether the European Commission intends to condemn the incident, but the deputy head of the EU executive’s press office, Arianna Podestà, quickly dismisses the question and the matter, arguing that “it is not for us to judge the actions of other international partners.” These words confirm the difficulties faced by the European Union, which, despite everything, continues to consider Washington an ally. “The United States has historically been a strategic partner of the EU, and it still is,” Podestà continues.
https://www.eunews.it/en/2024/05/29/mcguinness-russia-uses-shadow-ships-to-circumvent-oil-sanctions/
Then there is the question of international influence, which is very different. The United States can do more than the EU can, and Brussels is aware of this. It is no coincidence that the deputy head of the spokesperson’s service adds that there are many areas in which the two entities collaborate, giving concrete examples of US engagement in the Middle East and peace in Ukraine, issues that the EU could not handle on its own. This explains Brussels’ difficulties in condemning American actions, which it tends to gloss over.
“We want to send a strong and clear message to Russia: the more sanctions there are against the country, the better,” says Anitta Hipper, spokesperson for the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas. She too refrains from condemning the US operation, limiting herself to reiterating that “we condemn the aim of circumventing sanctions.” This failure to condemn suggests that the European Commission is once again endorsing Trump’s actions. However, since its timid reaction to Maduro’s arrest refers to compliance with the rules, the press has asked the Commission a clear question: “From a legal standpoint, does the sanctions regime allow states to intercept ships and board them? Yes or no? ” Kallas’ spokesperson replied: “I will have to look into the matter and then get back to you.”
The European Commission has made another blunder. When it is not stammering, it pretends not to know what is being talked about. In short, the Commission is a slave to its relationship with the United States, where the US ridicules Europeans or induces them to ridicule themselves.
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
