Transatlantic relations and the Iraqi crisis

Abstract

This dissertation will analyse important aspects of transatlantic relations in light of the Iraqi crisis. The new security threats that have emerged after the Cold War are now more complex to tackle and involve more than just military means. Security has become the primary focus of transatlantic relations. Transatlantic approaches to these new security threats have tended to diverge rather than converge. The terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001 brought a wave of solidarity among all Europe's Member States and they joined forces to fight the oppressive regime in Afghanistan. However, differing views on how to best deal with Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq led to a dangerous cooling of transatlantic relations. The rift in the transatlantic partnership cannot be deemed as a difference of opinion regarding the approach to the Iraqi problem. Rather it is seen as a fundamental struggle between the European Union and the United States for leadership in Europe and in foreign affairs. Whereas the United States regards the use of military force as a pre-requisite, the European Union views it as detrimental and dangerous to conflict resolution. The setback for the European Union in achieving the same position and influence of the United States in the international sphere is in security matters because it does not speak with one voice. Individuality still matters in the European Union as has become clear in the wake of the Iraqi crisis -whereby several member states and candidate countries at that time entered into differences of perspectives with each other. EU Member States still want to retain control over their foreign policies. Now that the Iraqi crisis has ended, the attention is focused on whether the Iraqi divergences have left any permanent 'damage' to the relationship and whether it is influencing their foreign policies towards other troubled areas.