[Annotated] The Western alliance is in trouble

That should worry Europe, America and the world

America did as much as any country to create post-war Europe. In the late 1940s and the 1950s it was midwife to the treaty that^[각주:1] became the European Union and to NATO, the military alliance that won the cold war. The United States acted partly out of charity^[각주:2], but chiefly out of self-interest^[각주:3]. Having been dragged into^[각주:4] two world wars, it wanted to banish^[각주:5] Franco-German^[각주:6] rivalry^[각주:7] and build a rampart against^[각주:8] the Soviet threat. After the Soviet collapse in^[각주:9] 1991, the alliance anchored democracy in^[각주:10] the newly liberated states of eastern Europe. 

Today, however, America and Europe are separated by a growing rift^[각주:11]. The mood before the NATO summit in Brussels on July 11th and 12th is poisonous^[각주:12]. As President Donald Trump accuse the Europeans of bad faith and of failing to pull their weight^[각주:13], they accuse him of crass^[각주:14] vandalism^[각주:15]. A second summit, between Vladimir Putin and Mr Trump in Helsinki on July 16th, could produce the once-unthinkable^[각주:16] spectacle of^[각주:17] an American president treating his Russian opponent better than he has just treated his allies. 

Even if the two summits pass off without controversy^[각주:18] - as they might, given how Mr Trump delights in^[각주:19] confounding his critics^[각주:20] - the differing priorities^[각주:21], divergent beliefs^[각주:22] and clashing^[각주:23] political cultures^[각주:24] will remain. The Western alliance is in trouble^[각주:25], and that should worry Europe, America and the world. 

Every alliance has its tensions^[각주:26], but the Western one is strained on^[각주:27] a bewildering number of^[각주:28] fronts. Mr Trump, and his generals, are exasperated by^[각주:29] the feeble efforts of^[각주:30] many NATO members to honor their promise to^[각주:31] raise defence spending towards 2% of GDP by 2024. The American right tends to condemn European support for^[각주:32] the Iranian nuclear deal (which Mr Trump quit), and what it sees as a bias against^[각주:33] Israel. And policymakers from^[각주:34] both parties think that, as the world's attention shifts to^[각주:35] Asia, whining^[각주:36], sanctimonious^[각주:37] Europeans deserve less of their time. 

As if that were not enough, Mr Trump fatuously^[각주:38] accuses the EU of being "set up to take advantage of the United States" and chastises it for^[각주:39] unfair trade. Meanwhile, Europe is divided. Italy has a new populist coalition^[각주:40] that is pro-Putin. So, increasingly, is Turkey, a member of NATO (but not the EU) which is hostile to the liberal democratic values that bind the alliance^[각주:41]. Worse could be in store^[각주:42]. A Labour government in Britain under Jeremy Corbyn, who has a long history of opposing the use of arms by the West, would treat America with deep suspicion; he could even try to leave NATO. 

SACEUR punch

This newspaper believes that the Western alliance is worth saving. In a dangerous and increasingly authoritarian world, it can act as a vital source of^[각주:43] security and a bastion of democracy^[각주:44]. But the alliance does not have a God-given right to survive. It must continually earn its place^[각주:45]. The question is: how?

The first step is not to make the job harder. Europe should do everything it can to resist Mr Trump's instinct to lump trade with security^[각주:46]. Wrapping them up together^[각주:47] will only make the West less secure as well as poorer. 

Next, supporters of the alliance need to be practical. That means paying up. Mr Trump is right to complain about countries like Germany and Italy, which spent just 1.22% and 1.13% of GDP on defence in 2017. Indeed, he could go further. Too little of defence spending is useful - over a third of Belgium's is eaten up^[각주:48] by pensions^[각주:49]. More should go on R&D and equipment^[각주:50]. 

For America's allies, being practical also means keeping up. Collaboration in areas like^[각주:51] cyber-security will make the alliance more valuable to^[각주:52] America. More urgently NATO must continue to sharpen^[각주:53] its response to^[각주:54] the tactics of misinformation^[각주:55] and infiltration that^[각주:56] Russia used in Crimea and eastern Ukraine. Politics waxes^[각주:57] and wanes^[각주:58]. Lost military understanding is hard to rebuild. Exercises that cement NATO's remarkably close working military relations^[각주:59] are more vital than ever. 

And being practical means sticking together^[각주:60]. Negotiating over^[각주:61] Brexit, the EU is minded to shut Britain out of^[각주:62] the union's security structures because it will no longer be a member. Given Britain's military experience, its arms industry and its intelligence agencies, that is self-defeating^[각주:63]. Instead, the EU's members should seek to bind Britain in by, for example, promoting the European Intervention Initiative, proposed by France, which aims to create a force that can act in crises. Once America would have seen such a plan as a threat to NATO. Today it would stand both as insurance and as a sign that Europe is willing to take on more responsibility^[각주:64]. 

Fighting for the mind

Last is the battle of ideas. If NATO and the EU did not already exist, they would not be created. Since the Soviet collapse, the sense of threat has receded^[각주:65] and the barriers to working together have risen. Yet that does not make the transatlantic alliance^[각주:66] "obsolete^[각주:67]", as Mr Trump once claimed. America's alliances are an asset that are the envy of^[각주:68] Russia and China. NATO is an inheritance that^[각주:69] is all the more precious for being irreplaceable^[각주:70]. 

The need for security remains. Russia is not the Soviet Union but, as a declining power^[각주:71], it feels threatened. It has modernized its forces^[각주:72] and is prepared to deploy them. The need to anchor European democracy remains^[각주:73], too. As authoritarianism^[각주:74] creeps up on^[각주:75] Poland and Hungary, the EU and NATO can once again help limit its advance. And there is the extra benefit of how Europe helps America project power, by providing bases, troops and, usually, diplomatic support. 

NATO is more fragile than Mr Trump thinks. At its core is the pledge to treat an attack on^[각주:76] one member in the North Atlantic region as an attack on them all. His vacillation^[각주:77] and his hostility to^[각주:78] Europe weakens that promise^[각주:79], if only because it reveals his scorn for the idea that^[각주:80] small countries have the same rights as big ones. Asia is watching, as is Mr Putin. The more Mr Trump bullies his allies, the more the world will doubt America's security guarantees. Because great powers compete in a grey zone between peace and war, that risks miscalculation^[각주:81]. 

Mr Trump believes he is a master negotiator in pursuit of^[각주:82] a stronger America. With Europe, as with so much else, he gravely^[각주:83] undervalues what^[각주:84] he is giving up. 

1. midwife ; 2. [비유적] (새로운 일을 하는 데) 산파역을 하는 사람. ;; 미국∙영국 [|mɪdwaɪf] [본문으로]
2. out of charity ; 불쌍히 여겨 [본문으로]
3. out of self-interest ; 자신의 이해에 따라 [본문으로]
4. drag sth/sb into sth ; 2. (상관없는 일에) ~을 끌어들이다 [본문으로]
5. banish ; 2. ~ sb/sth (from sth) 사라지게 만들다; 제거하다 [본문으로]
6. Franco- ; ((연결형)) 「프랑스(의)」의 뜻 [본문으로]
7. rivalry ; [U, C] 경쟁, 대항; 경쟁[적대] 행위, 대항 (의식), 대립 (관계). ;; 미국∙영국 [|raɪvlri] [본문으로]
8. rampart ; [명사] (주로 복수로) 성곽, 성벽 ;; 미국식 [|rӕmpɑ:rt] 영국식 [|rӕmpɑ:t] [본문으로]
9. collapse ; [자동사] 2. <계획·희망 등이> 좌절되다; <회담·교섭 등이> 결렬되다 [본문으로]
10. anchor ; 3. [타동사][VN] [주로 수동태로] ~ sb/sth (in/to sth) ~에 단단히 기반을 두다 ;; (희망 따위를) 걸다(fix). [본문으로]
11. rift ; 2. 불화, (우정·애정 등의) 균열 ((in, between)) [본문으로]
12. poisonous ; 유독[유해]한, 악취를 뿜는; 악의 있는, 독살스러운; [구어] 불쾌하기 짝이 없는 [본문으로]
13. pull one's weight ; 자기 임무를 다하다(=do one’s fair share) [본문으로]
14. crass ; [형용사] 1. 우둔한, 아주 어리석은; 형편없는, 지독한 ;; [본문으로]
15. vandalism ; [U] 반달인풍[기질]; 예술·문화의 파괴 (행위); 예술·문화에 대한 적대시. [본문으로]
16. unthinkable ; 1. 상상도 할 수 없는, 감히 생각도 할 수 없는; 도저히 있을 법하지 않은 ;; 2. 생각할 가치도 없는, 문제가 되지 않는 [본문으로]
17. spectacle ; 1-a. 광경, 볼 만한 것, 장관(壯觀)(sight) ;; 1-b. (호화로운) 구경거리; 쇼 ;; 1-c. 보기에도 딱한[지겨운] 광경, 참상 [본문으로]
18. pass off ; (英) 행사가 행해지다[이뤄지다] [본문으로]
19. delight in sth /doing sth ; (수동태로는 안 씀) (특히 다른 사람들이 불편해 하는 어떤 일을 하기를) 대단히 즐기다 ;; to get a lot of pleasure from something or from doing something, especially something that annoys or upsets other people [본문으로]
20. confound ; [vn], (격식) 1. 어리둥절[당혹]하게 만들다 ;; 2. …이 틀렸음을 입증하다 ;; 미국∙영국 [kən|faʊnd] [본문으로]
21. differing ; [형용사] [명사 앞에만 사용] different from each other or from someone or something else [본문으로]
22. divergent ; 2. (사상 따위가) 다른, 일치하지 않는. ;; 동의어 DIFFERENT ;; 미국식 [divə́:rdʒənt, dai-] [본문으로]
23. clash ; 2. ARGUE | [자동사][V] ~ (with sb) (over/on sth) 의견 충돌을 일으키다, 언쟁을 벌이다 ;; 3. BE DIFFERENT | [자동사][V] ~ (with sth) (신념・생각・성격 등이) 충돌하다, 차이를 보이다 [본문으로]
24. political culture ; (정치학) <용어>정치문화(심리학) ; 정치문화에 대해서는 많은 정의가 있다. [본문으로]
25. be in trouble[difficulties] ; 난경, 곤경에 처하다, 문제가 생기다 [본문으로]
26. tension ; 1. [U , C] [주로 복수로] ~ (between A and B) (사람들 사이의) 긴장 상태 ;; 2. [C , U] ~ (between A and B) (필요・이해의 차이로 인한) 긴장[갈등] [본문으로]
27. strain ; 2. MAKE EFFORT | ~ (sth) (for sth) | ~ (sth) (to do sth) 안간힘을 쓰다 ;; 3. STRETCH TO LIMIT | [타동사][VN] 한계에 이르게 하다, 무리를 주다 [본문으로]
28. a bewildering number ; 놀랄만한 수. ;; bewildering ; [형용사] 어리둥절하게[갈피를 못 잡게] 만드는 [본문으로]
29. exasperate ; [타동사][VN] 몹시 화나게[짜증나게] 하다 ;; 미국∙영국 [ɪg|zӕspəreɪt ; 英 또한 ɪg|zɑ:spəreɪt] [본문으로]
30. feeble ; (fee・bler / 'fiːblə(r) / , feeb・lest / 'fiːblIst /) 1. 아주 약한 ;; 2. (효과・의지 등이) 허약한, 미미한 [본문으로]
31. honor ; 6. <약속 등을> 지키다, 이행하다; <임기를> 다하다 [본문으로]
32. condemn ; 1. EXPRESS DISAPPROVAL | [타동사][VN] ~ sb/sth (for/as sth) (보통 도덕적인 이유로) 규탄[비난]하다 [본문으로]
33. bias against ; …을 안 좋게 보는 편견 [본문으로]
34. policymaker ; [명사] 정책 입안자[담당자] [본문으로]
35. shift to ; …로 옮기다. [본문으로]
36. whining ; [형용사] 흐느껴 우는, 투덜대는. [본문으로]
37. sanctimonious ; [형용사] (못마땅함) 독실한[신성한] 체하는 ;; 미국식 [|sӕŋktɪ|moʊniəs] 영국식 [|sӕŋktɪ|məʊniəs] [본문으로]
38. fatuously ; [부사] 멍청하게, 얼빠진 듯이 [본문으로]
39. chastise ; [vn] 1. ~ sb (for sth/for doing sth) (격식) 꾸짖다 ;; 1. …을 징벌하다, 혼내 주다, …에게 체벌을 가하다[for]. ;; 2. 심하게 꾸짖다[비난하다][for]. [본문으로]
40. coalition ; 1. 연합, 합동(union, alliance). ;; 2. (정당·국가·개인 간의 일시적인) 제휴, 연립, 연합. [본문으로]
41. bind ; 3. UNITE | [타동사][VN] ~ A and B (together) | ~ A to B 결속시키다, 묶다 [본문으로]
42. be in store (for sb) ; (운명 등이)(~에게) 다가오다(=be imminent) ;; be coming in the future; be about to happen [본문으로]
43. act as ; to perform a particular role or function [본문으로]
44. bastion ; 1. (격식) (생활 방식・주의 등의) 수호자 ;; 2. 보루, 요새 [본문으로]
45. earn one's place in ; ~할 자격을 얻다. [본문으로]
46. lump ; [타동사][VN] ~ A and B together | ~ A (in) with B A와 B를[A를 B와] 함께 묶다 [본문으로]
47. wrap sth up ; (합의·회의 등을) 마무리짓다 [본문으로]
48. eat sth up ; ~을 (엄청) 잡아먹다[써 버리다] [본문으로]
49. pension ; [명사] 연금; 생활 보조금, 수당 [본문으로]
50. equipment ; 4. (필요한) 지식, 기술, 능력[for]; [C](개개의) 소양. [본문으로]
51. collaboration ; [U]협력, 협동, 원조; 공동 연구, [C]그 결과, 합작, 공저(共著) [본문으로]
52. valuable to ; …에게 가치있는. [본문으로]
53. sharpen ; 3. [타동사][VN] (논쟁・쟁점 등을) 더 분명히 하다 [본문으로]
54. a response to ; …에 대한 반응[응답]. [본문으로]
55. misinformation ; [U] 오보, 와전. [본문으로]
56. infiltration ; 1. 스며듦, 침입, 침투, 침윤. ;; 2. 침입하는 것(infiltrate). ;; 3. (군사) 침투, 잠입 ; 각개 약진[전진]. [본문으로]
57. wax ; 5. [자동사][V-ADJ] ~ lyrical, eloquent, sentimental, etc. (격식) (말・글이) 열정적이, 웅변조가, 감상적이 되다 등 [본문으로]
58. wane ; [자동사] 2. 작아지다; (권력·명성 따위가) 약화되다, 시들다; (힘·강도 따위가) 감소되다(away)[in]. [본문으로]
59. cement ; [타동사] 2. (우정 따위의 관계를) 굳게 하다, 굳게 결합시키다(band). [본문으로]
60. stick together ; 함께 뭉치다[단결하다] ;; to remain loyal or friendly to one another [본문으로]
61. negotiate over ; …에 대해 교섭하다. [본문으로]
62. mind ; 1. [+目/+that 節] 주의[유의]하다; 경계하다; 따르다, …의 말하는 것을 듣다; …을 돌보다, 감시하다 ;; 2. [+目/+doing/+目+doing] [부정·의문·조건] 걱정하다, 귀찮게 여기다, 싫어하다 ;; mind를 수동형으로 사용한 것을 확인 [본문으로]
63. self-defeating ; [형용사] (문제를 해결하기는 커녕) 문제를 오히려 키우는[골치 아프게 만드는]; 자멸적인 [본문으로]
64. accept[assume, bear, shoulder, take, take on] (a) responsibility ;; 책임을 지다[맡다]. [본문으로]
65. recede ; 2. (특히 문제・느낌・특질이) 약해지다, 희미해지다 [본문으로]
66. transatlantic ; 1. 대서양 건너편의; (미국에서 보아) 유럽의; (유럽에서 보아) 미국의 ;; 2. 대서양 횡단의 [본문으로]
67. obsolete ; [형용사] 더 이상 쓸모가 없는, 한물간, 구식의 ;; 미국식 [|ɑ:bsə|li:t] 영국식 [|ɒbsəli:t] [본문으로]
68. be the envy of sth/sb ; ~의 부러움을 사다[~의 선망의 대상이다] [본문으로]
69. inheritance ; 1. [C , U] [주로 단수로] 상속받은 재산, 유산; 상속 ;; 2. [U , C] (과거・선대로부터 물려받는) 유산, 유전(되는 것) [본문으로]
70. irreplaceable ; [형용사] (대단히 귀중하거나 특별하여) 그 무엇으로도 대체[대신]할 수 없는 [본문으로]
71. declining ; [형용사] 기우는; 떨어지는, 하락하는; 쇠퇴하는. [본문으로]
72. modernize ; 1. [타동사][VN] (시스템・방법 등을) 현대화하다 [본문으로]
73. anchor ; 2. [타동사][VN] 고정시키다 ;; 3. [타동사][VN] [주로 수동태로] ~ sb/sth (in/to sth) ~에 단단히 기반을 두다 [본문으로]
74. authoritarianism ; [NOUN] Authoritarianism is the state of being authoritarian or the belief that people with power, especially the State, have the right to control other people's actions. [본문으로]
75. creep up on sb ; 1. (특히 뒤에서) ~에게 슬금슬금 다가가다 ;; 2. (특히 알지 못하는 사이에) ~에게 영향을 미치기 시작하다 [본문으로]
76. pledge ; 1. ~ (to do sth) (굳은) 약속, 맹세, 서약 [본문으로]
77. vacillation ; [명사] [UC] 동요, 흔들림; 망설임, 우유부단 ;; 미국∙영국 [væ̀səléiʃən] [본문으로]
78. hostility ; 1. [U] ~ (to/towards sb/sth) 적의, 적대감, 적개심 ;; 2. [U] ~ (to/towards sth) (생각・계획 등에 대한) 강한 반대[반감] [본문으로]
79. weaken ; 3. (각오・확신 등이[을]) 약해지다[약화시키다] [본문으로]
80. scorn for ; …에 대한 경멸. [본문으로]
81. miscalculation ; [명사] 잘못 계산[판단]함, 오산. [본문으로]
82. in pursuit of ; 2. [목적의 달성 따위]를 추구하여 [본문으로]
83. gravely ; [부사] 중대하게; 근엄하게, 진지하게; 장중하게 [본문으로]
84. undervalue ; [타동사][VN] [주로 수동태로] 과소평가하다, 경시하다; 시세보다 싸게 평가하다 [본문으로]