New Delhi: In the words of MK Narayanan, former Indian National Security Adviser, “The European Union is today a pale shadow of what it appeared to be only a few months back,” and Foreign Minister Jaishankar rebuked the EU, stating that India looked for partners and not preachers. The EU, designed to create a shared geopolitical space, is now in disarray. Despite recession for over two years, Germany wants to preserve its economic leadership; France, with limited military capabilities and domestic disunity, asserts power superiority, Britain after Brexit is alarmed at the fragile NATO alliance and is interested in being part of ‘Europe’ again. Poland maintains privileged ties with Washington, Italy conducts an independent foreign policy and small European states scramble for relevance. Brussels, meanwhile, fields Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and foreign affairs spokesperson Kaja Kallas who lack authority because European unity has hollowed out. Western Europe comprises aging powers, their goal being to be associated when Washington, Moscow and Beijing make decisions. Only the USA seems able to bestow EU politics a sense of direction.

In East Europe, Hungary and Slovakia resent Brussels and align considerably with Russia, while Spain and Italy decline to consider Moscow a threat. In Romania, rightist George Simion, protégé of pro-Russian anti-NATO Eurosceptic Calin Georgescu who was disqualified over alleged Russian interference and disinformation, is favoured to become president in voting on 18 May.

The Euro became Germany’s instrument of control........

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