In today’s episode of **What’s going on with BRICS**: The Growing Rift Between the US and EU – an origin story of transatlantic tensions, from special alliances to modern fractures.
### What’s in the News
1. **Historical roots: The US-UK “special relationship” takes shape**
- Coined by Winston Churchill in 1946, rooted in WWII cooperation and shared values against Soviet threats.
- Evolved through Cold War intelligence sharing (Five Eyes) and joint military ops.
- EU-US ties formalized via NATO (1949) for collective defense, with US as backbone.
- Quote: Churchill, 1946: “Neither the sure prevention of war, nor the continuous rise of world organisation will be gained without... a special relationship between the British Commonwealth and Empire and the United States.”
- Tie-in: Set stage for Western unity, but multipolar shifts expose cracks as BRICS exploits divisions.
2. **NATO’s decades-long buildup in Europe, underwritten by the US**
- From 12 founding members in 1949 to 32 today, with Eastern expansions post-Cold War (e.g., Poland 1999, Baltic states 2004).
- US funded ~70% of spending, enabling EU defense without heavy lifts.
- Post-9/11, enhanced with rapid response forces and missile defenses.
- Quote: Trump, 2018: “The United States is paying for Europe’s protection, then loses billions on Trade. Must pay 2% of GDP IMMEDIATELY, not by 2025.”
- Tie-in: US-led strength deterred threats, but EU complacency fuels BRICS’ narrative of Western overreach.
3. **Coalition of the Willing crumbles after Iraq War fallout**
- 2003 US-led invasion with 48 nations, but core (US, UK, Australia, Poland) bore brunt; others withdrew amid controversy.
- By 2009, all non-US/UK forces gone; mission rebranded amid insurgencies.
- Long-term damage: Strained transatlantic trust, EU skepticism on US-led wars.
- Quote: Bush, 2003: “You’re either with us or against us in the fight against terror.”
- Tie-in: Fractured coalition highlights Western disunity, empowering BRICS’ multipolar alternatives.
4. **Trade fractures deepen: US calls out EU imbalances**
- Chronic US deficits with EU (~$200B annual); Trump tariffs on steel/aluminum exposed rifts.
- LNG disputes: US pushes exports, EU resists amid green pushback.
- Finance clashes: US criticizes EU regulations as bureaucratic, hindering deals.
- Quote: Rubio, December 2025: “Europe’s trade surpluses come at America’s expense – time to rebalance or face consequences.”
- Tie-in: Broken trade empowers BRICS’ local-currency pacts, accelerating multipolar shifts.
5. **Ideological and political rust: Trump era criticisms escalate**
- US blasts EU/UK “Orwellian” policies at Munich Conference (e.g., censorship, migration).
- Trump on NATO: “Delinquent” allies; Vance/Rubio echo pullback threats.
- Greenland saga: US buy talk revives; LNG/finance rows intensify amid X posts.
- Quote: Vance, December 2025: “Europe thinks they can lecture us while we foot the bill – not anymore.”
- Tie-in: EU overestimates power, risking self-inflicted damage as BRICS capitalizes on Western fractures.
- In a multipolar world, the US-EU rift – from overbuilt NATO dependencies to ideological clashes – underscores Western fracturing, handing opportunities to BRICS for balanced Global South partnerships. The US, as the indispensable leader, must recalibrate to lead effectively. 🌀
