Barack Obama, one way love

"When European commission president José Manuel Barroso and selected senior chums sit down for luncheon at the White House tomorrow, their genial stand-in host will be vice-president Joe Biden," writes Simon Tisdall in the Guardian, who further adds, "if this sounds like a bit of a snub, well, it is." The indifference bordering on disdain, which Barack Obama demonstrates for his European allies is a source of concern on the Old Continent, notes the British daily — and according to the European Council on Foreign Relations, Europe has only itself to blame.

In its audit of EU-US relations published on 2nd November, the British think tank takes the view that Europe, which remains largely submissive with regard to the US, should stop fetishizing transatlantic relations, and come to terms with the advent of a post-American era, which will require it to change many of its attitudes and strategies. Unlike the United States, which has set aside the Cold War doctrine, "European states are still clinging to a belief in American hegemony, which leads them to adopt servile attitudes to Washington," observes Spiegel-Online. In fact, they are so determined in their desire to "flatter America" that they "become involved in ventures that are not necessarily in Europe's interest — the war in Afghanistan being a case in point." From America's point of view, this conduct has a lot in common with the behaviour of "small attention seeking children," adds the on-line version of the German weekly.

Treat 'em mean, keep 'em keen

There is plenty of evidence of the aloof attitude adopted by Barack Obama: Gordon Brown tried in vain to obtain a private meeting, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy has not made much headway either. "Instead of an entente cordiale of mutual admiration, he has faced awkward questions about Afghanistan troop levels, Turkey-phobia, and the French nuclear arsenal," notes Simon Tisdall. At the same time, governments in Eastern Europe have yet to get over Obama's about-turn on the missile defence shield project, which was announced over the phone. In an attempt to move forward on Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Russia, Europe has invested large amounts of money and contributed top level personnel, but all too often, it has been "ignored, marginalized, and intentionally divided" by the United States," notes Spiegel-Online.

In spite of all this, conciliatory attitudes continue to prevail on the eastern side of the Atlantic. "In the face of rejection, Europe invariably responds by redoubling its efforts to woo the American president," points out Spiegel-Online. Instead of defending a common position on diplomatic issues, "European dignitaries who visit Washington devote most of their energy to upstaging other European heads of state." In the absence of common European policies, the European press believes that Europe has no hope of building a special relationship with the United States. In the words of the Guardian, it will continue to resemble "the spotty, socially challenged nerd who has a crush on the prom queen."