August 19, 2020
America Should Capitalize on Europe’s Unlikely Comeback from the Coronavirus
A few months ago, Americans were praying for Europe. As the coronavirus ravaged the continent, they watched the lockdowns in Italy, worried about infection rates in Spain, and sympathized with Brits when Prime Minister Boris Johnson became ill. European countries took health security into their own hands, leaving a coherent, continent-wide approach in the dust. Following several years of fractious discord, the Europe of 2020 appeared more distracted and divided than ever.
But then, as the United States descended into the abyss of the coronavirus pandemic, a strange thing happened across the Atlantic: Europe staged an unlikely, tentative comeback. This comeback was not only based on the health of its citizens but on a newfound political and economic unity, which could prove to be beneficial for America. If the momentum of this comeback is sustained, then it points to new opportunities in transatlantic relations. The winner of November’s presidential election would be wise to seize those opportunities.
Read the full op-ed in The National Interest.
More from CNAS
-
The Russia Stability Tracker
Reports
In February 2023—one year into Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine—the Center for a New American Security convened a group of leading U.S. experts on Putin’s Rus...
By Andrea Kendall-Taylor
-
Russian Hybrid Attacks and Europe's Response
Podcast
Europe is facing an escalation in high-profile Russian hybrid attacks. Earlier this month, Germany attributed an attempted drone attack at Leipzig Airport to Moscow, Denmark a...
By Andrea Kendall-Taylor & Jim Townsend
-
Sep 25, ’26 Washington Roundtable
Podcast
Jim Townsend, adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, joins the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast to discuss Pentagon officials engaging defense ...
By Jim Townsend
-
A Rearmed Germany's Place in Europe
Podcast
Today we are taking a closer look at Germany as it returns to military power. As the United States pulls back from Europe and threats of Russian aggression are heightened, Ger...
By Andrea Kendall-Taylor & Jim Townsend
