The Foreign Service Journal, December 2008

foreign and security policy and for collective defense are regularly set back, as “New Europe” is roused to oppose collective European diplomatic and military institutions that might rival NATO. This is one, although certainly not the only, reason that the E.U.’s constitutional reform is taking so long to achieve. Again, is weakening the European Union really in America’s interest? The answer depends upon what role the U.S. wishes to play in post-Soviet Europe. In the days of the Marshall Plan, we thought America’s interest lay in a strong, prosperous and unified continent, able to avoid the terrible quarrels of the past and to take prima- ry responsibility for its own security. Today, we often seem to prefer a divided and weakened partner, presum- ably because we believe that means more influence for the U.S. This is a dubious and dangerous view, one that divides Europe, sows bitterness and turns old friends into enemies. Given the rapid rise of Asia and the huge problems of fitting China and India into the world economy, the United States would be wise to adopt a grand strategy that relies on the leverage supplied to its own influence by a strong and autonomous Europe, capable of manag- ing its own affairs. Arguably, recent experience with Iran, North Korea and, indeed, Georgia suggests the useful- ness to American diplomacy of vigorous, united and inde- pendent European diplomacy. If Europe does not always agree with us, so much the better. Our misadventure in Iraq and the situation in Georgia both suggest the need for more effective foreign checks and balances on Washington’s diplomatic enthusi- asms. Left to its own devices, our national system seems to center an excess of impulsive power in Washington. We ourselves seem less and less capable of checking that excess. Balancing by true friends abroad is therefore very much in our own national interest. Using NATO to per- petuate Europe’s weakness is not. Initiatives for a New Administration? Enthusiasm for NATO enlargement is a bipartisan F O C U S D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 8 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 45