Prophecies Become Reality

Living in perfect harmony?

Normally, I would be happy if my predictions turn out to be correct. This time, however, I'm not really feeling any joy.

Back in the summer of 2021, four years ago, I wrote in the German-language edition of "Europe at the Crossroads," [1] co-authored with Hang Nguyen and Andreas Dripke:

Even today, we Europeans are struggling with the realization that, in view of the gigantic challenges facing humanity as a whole, we should prioritize our commonalities over our divisions.

Achieving this and thus creating a Europe capable of taking action will take all our strength over several years. But we already suspect that this is far from the end of history [2].

We must create Europe, not least so that we can have a say in our own destiny in the world, so that we can assert our interests, so that we are not crushed in the great tussle between the world powers.

This great tussle between the world powers has long since begun. We Europeans seem to have already found ourselves caught between their millstones. This, at least, is what the reports about the "disastrous trade deal" suggest, which, tellingly, took place last Sunday at Donald Trump's own golf resort, the Scottish Turnberry Golf Club. Nationwide protests over Trump's visit to Scotland provided the appropriate accompaniment [3].

The content of the agreements can be read everywhere. More interesting are the spontaneous reactions of observers, those affected, and the justifications of those involved in the "deal":

• "Europe caves in to Donald Trump," writes Michael Sauga [4] in an editorial in Der SPIEGEL.
  
  
• "For Donald Trump, it's a deal; for Europe, it's a declaration of surrender. The US President's meeting with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at Scotland's Turnberry Golf Club ended like Yalta without war," writes Gabor Steingart [5] in The Pioneer.
  
  
• "The EU is dwarfing itself," comments Hendrik Kafsack [6] in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on the "solution" to the tariff dispute with the US.

Ursula von der Leyen, who led the talks, spoke cryptically of a "rebalancing" in the transatlantic relationship and "put on a brave face."

This is the "biggest deal of all time," Donald Trump, on the other hand, was as happy as a kid in a candy store – while everyone else has to stay outside.

And so, Hendrik Kafsack summarizes: "The EU was not united enough to be able to impose tariffs on Trump like Canada and China. In this conflict, it actually resembled a coalition of 27 dwarves rather than a single European giant. However, the truth is that, given its dependence on the EU, it was difficult for it to do so in terms of security policy. It lacks the threatening potential that China has with its control over critical raw materials. Trump coldly recognized this and exploited it."

The list of comments could go on endlessly. The tone ranges from concern ( BDI) to faint-hearted acceptance of the unequal balance of power (BGA) to scorn and ridicule among less dependent commentators. This picture also continues among international observers and commentators, e.g. by Riley Callanan [7] in GZero Media.

So, while Ursula von der Leyen, as well as Friedrich Merz and Lars Klingbeil, are trying to justify the outcome, defiant resistance should stir in every citizen with a somewhat intact backbone (politicians excluded): things cannot, must not continue like this!

The 27 dwarfs must become a giant that can defend itself like Canada or China.

"Europe thus finds itself suspended between a past it seeks to overcome and a future it has not yet defined."

With these powerful words, Henry Kissinger concludes Chapter 2, "The European Balance of Power System and Its End," of his 2014 book "World Order" [8]

These are true words, clear and unambiguous, sufficiently provocatively formulated to serve as a call to action.

So far, however, they have fallen and apparently continue to fall on deaf ears.

Does Europe perhaps, beyond its role as deputy sheriff alongside the world's policeman, perhaps have a mission, a task that Europe should strive to fulfil in this world?

I think so. We as humanity are facing great challenges that are greater than Germany, greater than Europe. We can only hope that they are not yet too great for humanity.

The "long-term preservation of the foundations of life for living beings on this planet" must be the primary imperative we must follow. There can be no alternatives to this, unless we are inclined to consider collective suicide as an alternative in the medium term.

Following this principle means acting more strongly as a community, certainly more strongly than we have done so far, much more strongly than US citizens are accustomed to, but hopefully in a different social style than China is wont to act.

This gives rise to an important, typically European secondary goal: "The preservation and defence of civil liberties." It is to be feared that, as we tackle the challenges facing us as humanity, they will not be able to be maintained to the extent we are accustomed to and take for granted. It will therefore be all the more important to bring them to the forefront.

"Nothing in the world is as powerful as an idea whose time has come," the French writer Victor Hugo [9] is often quoted as saying. 

Has the time already come for the multinational state "Europe"? I think so – and not just since today. 

That's why Europe must be reimagined and redesigned [10].

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[1] Dripke, A., Nguyen, H., & Walther, H. (2021). Europe at a crossroads: What Europe must do to save its future. Diplomatic Council e.V. Retrieved 202507-29, from https://www.amazon.com/Europa-Scheideweg-Zukunft-retten-German-ebook/dp/B09M74G9TT

• This German-language e-book, authored by Dripke, Nguyen, and Walther in 2021 under the Diplomatic Council e.V., offers an analysis on the geopolitical challenges facing Europe today. It outlines strategic recommendations for European resilience, focusing on governance, economic solidarity, and regional integration. Suitable as policy reading for understanding Germany's European narrative.

[2] Fukuyama, F. (1992). The end of history and the last man. Free Press.

• In this seminal work, political scientist Francis Fukuyama argues that liberal democracy represents the final stage in humanity’s ideological development. He examines philosophical, historical, and sociopolitical dimensions, projecting stability in post–Cold War global order. The book remains influential for studies of modern political systems and democratic theory.

[3] WELT. (2025, July). Trump visit turns historic golf course into a restricted zone – nationwide protests. WELT. Retrieved [insert retrieval date], from https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article6883fcb30e680a76f4e95ea7/schottland‑besuch‑trump‑verwandelt‑historischen‑golfplatz‑in‑sperrzone‑landesweite‑proteste.html

• This article from WELT (July 2025) reports on Donald Trump’s visit to Scotland, during which a historic golf resort became a security zone amid widespread protests. It covers local reactions and policy implications, reflecting broader tensions around his diplomatic conduct and public reception in Europe’s political landscape.

[4] Sauga, M. (2025, July 27). Trade deal with the U.S.: Europe capitulates before Donald Trump. Der Spiegel. Retrieved 2025-07-28 from https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/handelsdeal-mit-den-usa-europa-kapituliert-vor-donald-trump-kommentar‑a ‑286286c0‑5c2b‑4764‑92e7‑db90b8d02998

• Michael Sauga’s editorial in Der SPIEGEL denounces the trade agreement between the EU and U.S. as a surrender, highlighting how the EU accepted unilateral conditions imposed by Trump. Published on 27 July 2025, the article draws attention to 15% tariffs on EU exports and emphasizes concerns about European agency and influence in transatlantic negotiations.

[5] Steingart, G. (2025, July 28). Tariff deal: Yalta without a war. The Pioneer. Retrieved [insert retrieval date], from https://www.thepioneer.de/originals/others/articles/zolleinigung‑jalta‑ohne‑krieg

• Gabor Steingart’s commentary characterizes the EU–U.S. trade agreement as “Yalta without war,” arguing that Europe emerged weak in negotiations reminiscent of the Yalta Conference. Published on 28 July 2025 in The Pioneer, the article underscores the dramatic symbolism of EU subordination and geopolitical imbalance in transatlantic diplomacy.

[6] Kafsack, H. (2025, July 28). Trade conflict with the U.S.: The EU dwarfs itself. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Retrieved 2025-07-28 from https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/zollstreit-mit-den-usa-die-eu-verzwergt-sich-selbst-110610559.html

• In this FAZ commentary from 28 July 2025, Hendrik Kafsack criticizes the EU’s concession-based approach to the U.S. tariff deal, arguing that Europe weakened its strategic position. The article reflects on the negotiation dynamics and leadership in Brussels, framing the agreement as politically and economically disadvantageous.

[7] Callanan, R. (2025, 28. Juli). US and EU strike trade deal. GZERO Media. Retrieved at 2025-07-29 from https://www.gzeromedia.com/news/analysis/us-and-eu-strike-trade-deal

• In this analytical article, Riley Callanan reports on the framework trade agreement finalized on July 28, 2025 between the U.S. and EU. The piece outlines key provisions such as a 15% tariff on major EU exports (e.g. autos, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors) and reciprocal commitments from the EU amounting to $750 billion in energy purchases and $600 billion in U.S. investments. The author highlights geopolitical implications and the potential stabilizing effect on transatlantic trade.

[8] Kissinger, H. (2014). World order: Reflections on the character of nations and the course of history. New York: Penguin Press.

• In Chapter 2 ("The European Balance-of-Power System and Its Breakdown"), Kissinger reflects on the diplomatic system that governed Europe from the Peace of Westphalia until World War I. He examines its reliance on reasoned statecraft, mutual restraint, and interest-driven balance, contrasting it with the ideological upheavals of later centuries. The chapter culminates in a powerful final sentence highlighting the historical rupture brought about by the collapse of this equilibrium. This chapter is foundational for understanding Kissinger’s view on international order and historical realism.

[9] “Victor Hugo.” Wikipedia (n.d.). Retrieved 2025-07-29 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Hugo

• This Wikipedia entry provides a comprehensive biography of Victor-Marie Hugo (1802–1885), detailing his literary oeuvre across poetry, novels, drama, and political engagement. It includes his most famous works (Les Misérables, The Hunchback of Notre‑Dame), his Romantic affiliations, political career, and ongoing influence as a champion of human rights and republican ideals.

[10] Europeans for the Planet. (n.d.). Party for Europe’s role in the world. Retrieved 2025-07-29 from https://eufp.de/

• This website belongs to the German political group "Europeans for the Planet" The site details the party’s vision for Europe’s global role, environmental priorities, and political program. Although undated, it offers a transparent manifesto of a youth-oriented, Eurocentric platform advocating ecological and democratic values.