Thread by @minna_alander

“America needs to realize that public opinion is shifting in many EU countries.” - an EU official said

I don’t know about Western Europe but at least in NCEE, if public opinion is shifting, then even more firmly to support Ukraine
politico.eu/article/vladim…

“Vladimir Putin is beginning to fracture the West.”

No. The West is fracturing itself, as it always does.

Europeans are not really in a position to complain. The US warned us about relying on Russian energy. We are also dependent on US-provided security.

If left to our own devices, we also wouldn’t be able (or willing ??) to support Ukraine with what it needs. The US support is worth twice the sum that WHOLE EUROPE has managed to muster up so far.

ifw-kiel.de/topics/war-aga…

The US should indeed coordinate more closely with European partners on the inflation reduction act and other domestic policies likely to impact Europe big time, and it would be nice if the LNG prices weren’t so high. A transatlantic trade war is the very last thing we need

“Officials on both sides of the Atlantic recognize the risks that the increasingly toxic atmosphere will have for the Western alliance. The bickering is exactly what Putin would wish for, EU and U.S. diplomats agreed.”

Here we go.

A reminder on who profits from what:

“In most cases […] the difference between the export and import prices doesn't go to U.S. LNG exporters, but to companies reselling the gas within the EU. The largest European holder of long-term U.S. gas contracts is France's TotalEnergies”

Yeah many European countries are now buying off the shelf from the US. Because the US has something on the shelves.

(Joint) European defence industry projects take ages and we don’t have time now. It’s too bad but it is what it is. Of course it would be nice if it changed.

P.S. I really think they should keep public opinion out of it - as mentioned idk about public opinion in France, Italy, or elsewhere.

But e.g. in Germany, public opinion has remained firmly behind Ukraine and it’s more clear in Germany now than ever before what’s at stake.

To conclude: yes, a HS-EU trade war would be very bad. Must be avoided.

But leave support for Ukraine out of it. I would go as far as to say that a majority of Europeans support Ukraine and are willing to bear some personal discomfort if need be.

*US hello Elon the edit button would be actually a useful change you could implement !