Rearming Europe

The new era that the reactionary bloc grouped around Trump aspires to impose on a global scale has just begun, but we are already seeing the contradictions and resistances of different scope that are manifesting themselves in the face of that project. I will try to point out in this article some of the features that characterize this historical moment to then enter into its implications in Europe.

We are entering a new era. Trump’s return to the White House is so disruptive that it is causing the historic crisis of transatlantic relations as they were constituted after the Second World War. The new Republican and reactionary administration aims to exploit the new situation of ‘geopolitical chaos’ to revive the role of the United States of America through an authoritarian turn, based on an alliance with the big hi-tech capitalists such as Elon Musk, and through a new foreign policy that focuses on imperialist national interests.

At a time when everything is spiralling out of control in the East, when alliances as evil as the Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin duo are being forged, and when our leaders are advocating rearmament, we wanted to take some time to think about it. With Gilbert Achcar, a specialist in international relations and professor at the University of London, we discussed ways of supporting Ukraine while rejecting a generalized war.[Gaëlle Desnos-CQFD]

‘For the Left Bloc, there are various imperialisms and "none of them will have a progressive role because all act according to the interests of their capitalist elites". Therefore, "recognising this reality is vital in elaborating an internationalist proposal capable of offering a future to humanity and conceiving a democratic order of peoples."’

“In this context, the debate on security, military and defence issues has gripped all the countries of Europe. Putin’s regime poses a real threat to Eastern Europe and to democratic and social rights across the continent, through its alliances with the far right. Similarly, Trump, Musk and Vance, like the far right in Europe and elsewhere, are showing their willingness to attack head-on any social and progressive policy, however minimal, such as environmental regulations, the fight against discrimination or workers’ social and trade union rights.”

The drums of war are already generating a deafening din. Governments, companies and the media are united in repeating in unison warmongering slogans reminiscent of the turbulent beginnings of the 20th century. Defend Europe, defend its values, boost the military industry and even bring back compulsory military service. Europe is in danger, it stands alone in a hostile world and must rearm. Dark and toxic winds are blowing, which will sweep away any prospect of emancipation.

“Faced with the militarisation of the world, we need a global anti-war movement. It’s easy to say, but hard to do. Can we rely on local cross-border solidarity (Ukraine-Russia, India-Pakistan) to achieve this? Or on the huge solidarity movement with Palestine? Or social forums like the one that has just taken place in Nepal?”