Muddled plans and pandering to Trump left Europe looking like a much less serious global player, observers say
For months since the return of US President Donald Trump, there has been a roaring trade in papers and speeches about how to make Europe a truly independent geopolitical player.
But the independence movement was on the ropes this week, when a series of summits thrust Europe’s weakness on global affairs into the spotlight ahead of a bout of engagement with China.
“Europe is going to pay in a BIG way, as they should, and it will be your win,” wrote Rutte, who spent 14 years as the Dutch prime minister until last July, while only once hitting Nato’s defence spending targets.
