This week Obama comitted himself to an approach to Iran that the EU is already doing. In the last decade the EU has grown considerably in importance in global politics. Many nations in Africa, the Middle-east and Asia now turn directly towards the EU as an important power to co-operate with. Also the EU decided recently to a more unified EU foreign policy. This stresses the importance of the EU in foreign policy even more.
The fact is that Obama's foreign policy is in many ways in the same line as the general EU foreign policy. This opens new possibilities to improve EU-US relations. It also means that he can already state in the campaign that his foreign policy is more likely to find allies than the approach of Bush earlier or Hillary now.
After Bush there is obviously also a need for positive change in EU-USA relations I think that Obama should formulate a clear vision on this issue and combine this with the point that he is more likely to find allies if he will be president.
When it comes to Iran, environment, NATO (Turkey), Afghanistan etc. the USA needs the EU and vice versa. We need to work together again and the EU wishes to co-operate with the USA and waits for a president that will do this!
On Iran; Obama can make a difference towards Hillary by emphasizing the need of co-operation with the EU in stead of Hillary's unilateral approach. There are friends out there and we need to work together!
What do you think of this issue and approach?
p.s.: I am Dutch and politically active (voluntarily) on the European level for my own party here.
Last week there was still a lot of attention in Dutch media for Obama. It's obvious that European journalist who are located in the USA have a positive attitude towards him. It underlines that Obama is indeed able to turn the page when it comes to the image of the USA in the world. Hillary is clearly seen as 'more of the same'. Perhaps useful information for the campaign?
Seen this attitude in the EU and the need for positive change in EU-USA relations I think that Obama should formulate a clear policy on this issue. When it comes to Iran, environment, NATO (Turkey), Afghanistan etc. the USA needs the EU and vice versa. We need to work together again and the EU wishes to co-operate with the USA and waits for a president that will do this!
On Iran; Obama can make a difference towards Hillary by emphasizing the need of co-operation with the EU in stead of Hillary's unilateral approach. There are friends out there and we need to work with them!
Not only in the US but also in Europe the NYC meeting got press coverage. At the same time the US based European reporters wonder if Obama is able to break through in the next 100 days. But he has still the attention of the Europeans; that's for sure!
I personally do not think that he should go 'after Hillary' as many people here think he should do. It will not work and it does not fit in his message; although some clarity in the distinction between the two will help of course. And it's good that he challenges the 'experience issue'.
