The United States and Europe: Possible Options for U.S. Policy

Book Id: WPLBN0000154552
Format Type: PDF eBook:
File Size: 0.1 MB
Reproduction Date: 2008

Title:	The United States and Europe: Possible Options for U.S. Policy
Author:
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Government publications, Legislation., Government Printing Office (U.S.)
Collections:	Government Library Collection
Historic Publication Date:
Publisher:	Government Printing Office


Citation APA MLA Chicago The United States and Europe: Possible Options for U.S. Policy. (n.d.). The United States and Europe: Possible Options for U.S. Policy. Retrieved from http://gutenberg.cc/

Excerpt
Summary: The United States and Europe share a long and intertwined history, replete with many ups and downs. The modern transatlantic relationship was forged in the aftermath of World War II to deter the Soviet threat and to promote security and stability in Europe. NATO and the European Union (EU), the latest stage in a process of European integration begun in the 1950s, are the two key pillars upon which the U.S.-European partnership still rests. The U.S. Congress and successive U.S. administrations have supported both organizations as means to nourish democracy, foster reliable military allies, and create strong trading partners.

Table of Contents
Contents Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 The Current State of U.S.-European Relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 The Ties that Bind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 U.S.-European Frictions and a Relationship in Flux . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Leadership Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Structural Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Diverging Interests and Values? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 The Future of the Transatlantic Partnership: Possible Options for the United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Option #1: De-emphasize Europe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Pros . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Cons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Option #2: Maintain the Status Quo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Pros . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Cons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Option #3: Coalitions of the Willing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Pros . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Cons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Option #4: A Division of Labor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Pros . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Cons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Option #5: A New Bargain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Pros . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Cons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Assessment of Possible Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Issues for Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 List of Tables Appendix A: Membership in NATO and the European Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Appendix B: Spectrum of Possible Options for U.S. Policy Toward Europe . . 24