The Trump era

Are we headed for war? How will all this end? For some time now, the unease and bewilderment about the future of a world that isn't what we were led to believe has been palpable in conversations. And to make matters worse, Donald Trump has just given voice to this uncertainty with a document –United States national security strategy—in which he proclaims that "Europe faces the disappearance of its civilization," overwhelmed by immigration and "on the verge of losing its identity," and "that it is not clear that it has economies and militaries strong enough to remain reliable allies." The loss of identity, immigration, falling birth rates, and censorship of free speech are, according to Trump, some of Europe's plagues. Conclusion: "The United States must remain the greatest and most successful nation in the history of humankind and the home of freedom," and our goal must be "to help Europe correct its current trajectory."

Perhaps we should start to consider that filmmaker Costa-Gavras is right when he says: "I'm sorry, but Trump is the personality that best defines our era." It is true that with his lack of inhibition, he brings to the surface what we would rather not believe: that liberal democracies are faltering and that it is the American empire that wants to frame them within a new authoritarian order according to Washington's whims. The president's impunity has one advantage: no one can plead ignorance of his intentions. And everything is teetering: European bewilderment is becoming especially evident.

It's adding insult to injury. President Macron, who has brought the Élysée Palace to its lowest point, unable to form a stable and competent government, announces the reinstatement of voluntary national military service, citing the need to mobilize the country in the face of the critical moment the world is experiencing and with the intention of capitalizing on the appeal to the citizenry in the defense of France. Critical times, closing ranks: in whose service? Russian President Vladimir Putin, as if he had forgotten the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the occupation of a large part of the territory, says that he "has no intention of waging war in Europe, but if Europe wants it and starts it, the country is already prepared." And Lieutenant General Francisco Braco, head of the Spanish Air Force, warns that "we are not at war but neither are we at peace" and that "there are weapons in space."

In this state of unrest, Donald Trump decrees and dictates the path to be followed in order to bring Europe into line, demanding that it increase its military budget by 5% "for its own defense." Europe's dilemma is capitulation or resistance. And if it is not Europe that defends democratic values, who will? Will we not be able to demonstrate that no, this is not the Trump era, and that we still have much to defend?