FEBRUARY 24, 2013
KERRY IN EUROPE: MISSING A STOP by Annette Heuser It sounds like Hillary Clinton's typical travel schedule: nine countries in 10 days. But successor John Kerry's initial overseas trip as US secretary of state is more than just the classic round of introductory meetings. That's good because too much has changed since Clinton's 2009 debut, and the clock is ticking on a revamping of the trans-Atlantic partnership. It's also fortuitous that Kerry has an “economic carrot� in his luggage that can provide a new foundation for USEuropean relations. President Obama's State-of-the-Union announcement of negotiations on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership was received with great relief on the other side of the Atlantic, where the hype surrounding Washington's "pivot to Asia" has been a point of irritation. All the research indicates that such a linkage could significantly boost jobs and growth in the US and Europe. But a trans-Atlantic free trade agreement can be more than a technical contract to remove trade barriers and convince Europeans that chlorinated chicken can make a tasty meal. In office for less than a month, Secretary Kerry has already highlighted the importance of US economic interests for his agenda. A free-trade agreement with Europe may not technically be a State Department mandate, but the project is too big to fail for Washington. The secretary and his aides will undoubtedly play a key role in defining the overall strategy for an accord that should serve as a new framework for re-aligning the trans-Atlantic partners. At a time when NATO's fading magnetism has left a void in the partnership's meaning, a comprehensive economic compact could provide the needed impetus for this new framework. Security cooperation is suboptimal, and there's no sign of improvement on the horizon. Major allies, such as the UK and France, are cutting defense budgets. Germany shows no appetite for any military engagement. Even Washington appears to be re-defining its foreign-policy priorities: economics first, security second.
Geo-economics is now in vogue. The trans-Atlantic alliance can be secured only if it is based on a new narrative—an economic one. But building a trans-Atlantic free-trade zone can be successful only if the US does not create the impression of invoking a divide-and-conquer strategy in Europe. It is undoubtedly crucial for Washington to focus on Europe's big players such as Germany and France. Central and Eastern Europe, however, cannot be left out. That the secretary of state's itinerary excludes any country in those regions, not even loyal and supportive Poland, is surprising. Of course, Secretary Kerry cannot be expected to visit every EU capital on the first go. But historical sensitivities need careful consideration. Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's “old versus new Europe” categorization remains part of the continent's collective memory. Many in "new Europe" had high expectations for the Obama administration's re-set with Russia, and they hoped for a similar re-boot of their own relations with America. Little is left of this hope. Many Central and Eastern European leaders feel the White House has given them the cold shoulder. That's unfortunate. Those allies need to be on board to contribute to smoother US relations with Russia, supporting democratic parties in countries such as Ukraine, or securing the future of NATO’s military engagement in Afghanistan. Economically, Central and Eastern European countries also have a vital role to play. Some of them have managed the financial crisis well and will be an integral part of any deepening trans-Atlantic trade and investment partnership. Excluding them from the new secretary of state's first European foray is already causing irritation that could lead to unnecessary and unhelpful intra-European tensions and transAtlantic misunderstandings. In the 20th century the US led the effort to establish the largest and most successful military alliance. The 21st century offers Washington the opportunity to create the world's strongest, most dynamic and competitive economic free-trade zone. Secretary Kerry’s trip to Europe can provide the first building block of this new trans-Atlantic mega-project. Annette Heuser is the executive director of the Washington, DC-based Bertelsmann Foundation. annette.heuser@bfna.org ABOUT THE BERTELSMANN FOUNDATION The Bertelsmann Foundation is a private, non-partisan operating foundation, working to promote and strengthen transAtlantic cooperation. Serving as a platform for open dialogue among key stakeholders, the foundation develops practical policy recommendations on issues central to successful development on both sides of the ocean. ©Copyright 2013, Bertelsmann Foundation. All rights reserved. 1101 New York Avenue, NW, Suite 901 • Washington, DC 20005 USA • Tel: +1.202.384.1980 www.bfna.org