Charlie Edwards
Senior Researcher
Charlie Edwards writes, lectures and consults on national security, resilience, defence and intelligence. He works with international institutions, government departments, companies, and NGOs. He is a regular commentator in the national and international media.
at 12:24pm
on Thursday, 11th September 2008
On the anniversary of 9/11 the German Marshall Fund have published their annual transatlantic trends. There's some interesting stuff in the report. Europeans not only want Obama, but think he will improve transatlantic relations too; while a majority of Europeans think NATO is essential. Europeans identify climate change as a priority but Americans believe the Middle East should be the focus of their attention. The situation in Iraq, the top issue in American foreign policy, is largely absent from the transatlantic agenda.
While combating international terrorism remains a concern, rising energy costs and economic turbulence have shifted the focus of transatlantic debates over the past year. However, the scars from Iraq are still evident and a transatlantic rift remains, with only modest increases in the percentage of Europeans who feel transatlantic relations should become closer.
That said, a large majority of Europeans (67%) continue to feel that the EU should address international threats in partnership with the United States, rather than independently. Overall more we are more positive about transatlantic relations in 2008 than we were last yea - but there is still some way to go. But Obama really change things for the better?
While combating international terrorism remains a concern, rising energy costs and economic turbulence have shifted the focus of transatlantic debates over the past year. However, the scars from Iraq are still evident and a transatlantic rift remains, with only modest increases in the percentage of Europeans who feel transatlantic relations should become closer.
That said, a large majority of Europeans (67%) continue to feel that the EU should address international threats in partnership with the United States, rather than independently. Overall more we are more positive about transatlantic relations in 2008 than we were last yea - but there is still some way to go. But Obama really change things for the better?
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Comments
It is obvious that the change in mood in regards to transatlantic relations is due to Obama....
Having lived in Frankfurt during the days of the Bader Meinhof gang it is very interesting to me to see the totally different reactions toward a terrorist attack or or threat between the two continents...
That may be a difference that we can never overcome and one that will impact our relations in the future without being the dominent issue at the time.