The European Security and Defence Union Issue 22

Page 18

18 European Security & Defence 2015

Partner BSC 2015 United States of America

The leadership role of transatlantic partners (BSC/Ambassador John B. Emerson*) Complex global cross-

the UN charter are unachievable or out of date – a legacy

currents of conflict and crisis, trade and commerce, technolo-

of a postwar era not suited to our own.” Does it make more

gy and innovation, ethnicity and religion impact, and connect,

sense, he asked, to adhere to a belief that “power is a zero-

countries around the world; but in terms of diplomacy, there is

sum game; that might makes right; that strong states impose

a commonality that transatlantic partners share. In the second

their will on weaker ones; that the rights of individuals don’t

half of the 20 century, the United States and its European

matter?” Of course not; and the President then called for the

th

allies set an

kind of leadership that is

example for the

“strong enough to recognize

world. Together

that nations share common

we worked to

interests and people share a

promote the basic tenets of freedom and democracy.

“We must work together, through NATO, to leverage each other‘s strengths and capabilities.”

That constructi-

common humanity.” In the past, we have seen how this concept has worked; and over the course of just the past two years,

ve, cooperative,

we have seen it at work

and comprehensive commitment of the transatlantic partners

today. Transatlantic and other partners have responded, in a

to diplomacy is vital today – a diplomacy that balances both

coordinated and responsible fashion, to a series of complex

interests and values; a diplomacy that addresses present

global challenges – many of which did not even exist when

crises while maintaining a reliable, rules-based international

I arrived in Berlin as the U.S. Ambassador in the summer of

order; and a diplomacy that does not simply accept the cur-

2013.

rent state of affairs, but also tries to shape a more peaceful, prosperous, and just world.

Think about it: the Russian aggression in the Ukraine that challenges the rule of law that has been a hallmark of the

In his remarks to the UN General Assembly this year, Pre-

post-Cold War world; terrorism in the Mid-East that has me-

sident Obama discussed with fellow leaders how to respond

tastasized throughout northern Africa and Europe; the return

appropriately to the urgent challenges the world faces. “There

of the Taliban in certain parts of Afghanistan, a country that

are those,” he said, “who argue that the ideals enshrined in

values its transition to a free society where women now have the right to vote and girls have the opportunity to be educated; the threat of Ebola; the financial crisis in Greece; and the increasing tragedy of refugees and displaced persons in places like Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, and elsewhere. Transatlantic partners embraced major leadership roles in every one of these cases, using diplomacy as our first and preferred tool. Yet in certain situations, wisdom dictates that we require intelligence and even military capabilities. New, multi-faceted security challenges mean we have more work to do; while at the same time, we confront

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter

conflicting budget priorities. We

Steinmeier’s statements before their meeting in Berlin, October 22, 2015

must work together, through NATO,

to leverage each other’s strengths

Photo: U.S. Department of State


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