Feckless Europe accepts Trump’s Lone Ranger diplomacy
It is meekly welcoming the new sheriff’s vigilante justice
IF EUROPE CANNOT have America as a global policeman, it will settle for Donald Trump as the Lone Ranger. That, in effect, is the message from the leaders of Britain, France and Germany. All three have come close to endorsing strikes on Iran’s nuclear programme by Israel and America. Many will welcome his imposition of a ceasefire and his imperious order to Israeli warplanes to “turn around” rather than punish an apparent Iranian breach of it.
Explore more
This article appeared in the International section of the print edition under the headline “A new sheriff in town”
From the June 28th 2025 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the edition
The 19th century is a terrible guide to modern statecraft
A world carved up between Presidents Trump, Xi and Putin would be unstable and unsafe
Putin’s radioactive chokehold on the world
The Kremlin dominates the cross-border business of nuclear fuel and technology
How South Africa could harness Donald Trump’s wrath
Talk of “white genocide” is baseless. But some American pressure could be helpful
Sex work in the gig economy
Sweden is banning OnlyFans content as the lines around sex work blur
Can men and women be just friends?
The answer matters more than you think