President Donald Trump and Elon Musk have reunited – not in friendship, but in lamenting the state of Europe.
President Trump has warned that Europe’s migration crisis is leading to ‘civilisational erasure’ – and Elon Musk has said he wants to abolish the European Union after his company X was fined £105m over breaches to the Commission’s ‘Digital Services Act’, specifically over an alleged failure to meet transparency requirements, and a refusal to grant researchers access to public data.
Mr Musk says he wants power returned to nation states.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump issued a national security strategy for US global interests. Within it, he presented ‘blunt home truths’ to European leaders.
He has urged the EU to change its economic and regulatory policies to promote growth, invest more in defence to reduce reliance on the USA, and, crucially, warned that Europe will lose its identity and civilisation if it does not get a grip on the migration crisis.
Should we listen to our American friends Donald Trump and Elon Musk, or is it none of their business?
Well, we must certainly listen in the UK because post-Brexit we have a choice between American success and enterprise and European failure.
The dreadful climate policies which are making us cold and poor are a sign that, economically, Europe has over-regulated itself into stagnation.
Jacob Rees-Mogg reacts to recent remarks from Donald Trump and Elon Musk about Europe
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GB NEWS
Growth is weak, innovation trails behind the United States and Asia, and industries are drowning in compliance instead of competing globally.
When President Trump criticises European trade policy and carbon border tariffs, he is highlighting the fact that Europe increasingly protects itself not through competition and success, but through bureaucracy and protectionism.
On defence, the fact remains that Europe relies on American military power. If the United States were to withdraw its protection, Europe is not in a position to defend itself.
Donald Trump is right that peace is preserved by strength, and Europe should pay attention.
On the war in Ukraine, the notion that Europe can determine outcomes without paying the military and economic cost is preposterous. Either Europe commits to its security, or it must accept a compromise with the United States.
Returning to President Trump’s assertion that Europe is headed for ‘civilisational erasure’, he recognises from afar the impact that mass uncontrolled migration is having on the continent.
Societal, demographic and cultural changes are happening on a scale faster than citizens can consent to and that governments cannot control.
It will not bode well for Europe’s future to ignore these warnings. This does not mean Europe should allow itself to be ruled by the United States, but it does mean that Europe should listen. Warnings do not lose their value because they come from a President that they do not like.
If Europe wants to remain prosperous, secure, and keep its identity, it should take President Trump and Elon Musk’s warnings seriously.