U.S. lauds strengthened EU foreign-policy powers

At a meeting last Thursday with the European Union’s new foreign relations chief, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton welcomed the upgrading of EU foreign policy under the Lisbon Treaty.

“These are historic times for the EU. I expect that in decades to come, we will look back on the Lisbon Treaty and the maturation of the EU that it represents as a major milestone in our world’s history,” Clinton told press in Washington. “As the EU develops a more powerful and unified foreign-policy voice in the wake of the Lisbon Treaty, our transatlantic partnership will continue to grow.”

In a further indication that America’s historic relationship with Britain is being sidelined in favor of closer ties with the main powers on the Continent, EUobserver reported that Clinton “declined to mention [EU Foreign Minister Catherine] Ashton’s British nationality in the context of the U.S. and UK’s old ‘special relationship,’ amid concerns in some European capitals that Washington is increasingly keen to do business with Brussels rather than on a bilateral level.”

EUobserver went on to say that Clinton’s “remarks also stand in contrast to fears voiced in the European Parliament last year that the U.S. tried to scupper Lisbon ratification because it does not want to compete with a stronger Europe on the international stage.”

The fact is, as theTrumpet.com has made note of previously, the current U.S. administration is actively pushing for a stronger Europe on the world stage—and that is exactly what it is destined to get.

Read this recent column by Ron Fraser for insight into where America’s relationship with Europe—and particularly Germany—is destined to lead.