Episode 21 – A Transatlantic Divorce? America’s Anti-European Foreign Policy

It was a watershed moment: Vice President JD Vance’s speech at this year’s Munich Security Conference shook European observers. Instead of reaffirming transatlantic ties, the Vice President scolded European governments for what he perceived as the marginalization of dissident voices. The Oval Office confrontation between Presidents Zelenskyj and Trump further fanned fears that the United States might abandon its long-time commitment to European security. And, most recently, a Signal chat between Cabinet members further revealed a disconcerting level of disdain for Europe. While anti-American reflexes are nothing new in transatlantic relations, many observers consider anti-Europeanism as a new phenomenon. But is that true? What might be historical precursors of Trump’s foreign policy? And are we indeed witnessing a transatlantic divorce?Jack Thompson is the perfect person to the current changes in foreign policy as his career not only crisscrosses the Atlantic but also practice and academia: prior to joining the University of Amsterdam as a Lecturer in American Studies, he worked as a Team Head and Senior Researcher at the Center for Security Studies, ETH Zurich, Senior Strategic Analyst at The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, and Lecturer at The Clinton Institute, University College Dublin. His first monograph, Great Power Rising: Theodore Roosevelt and the Politics of U.S. Foreign Policy (Oxford University Press), won the 2020 Theodore Roosevelt Association Book Prize. He also co-edited three books, including Progressivism in America: Past, Present, and Future (Oxford University Press). He holds a Ph.D. in history from the University of Cambridge and a M.A. in American Foreign Policy and International Economics from The Johns Hopkins University SAIS.Links to recommended podcasts:The Ezra Klein Show, ‘The Ezra Klein Show’ - The New York TimesKnow Your Enemy, Know Your Enemy Archives - Dissent MagazineRoss Douthat, "Interesting Times," Opinion | Introducing ‘Interesting Times’ - The New York TimesThe Joe Rogan Experience, JRE - 10 Years in ReviewTheo Von, This Past Weekend, Theo Von - YouTubeSteve Bannon's War Room, „Bannon`s War Room“-Podcast –Apple Podcasts