Dolores Montserrat, Member of the European Parliament and Secretary General of the Party European People’s PartyHe traveled to Washington this week to strengthen relations between Europe and the United States at a time when Europe is witnessing tensions Trump administration He maintains contacts with a few European leaders. Former Minister of Health in … Spain presented the trip as an opportunity to restore its presence in the transatlantic relationship and prevent Europe from remaining on the sidelines in a political cycle characterized by geopolitical tensions and shifts in priorities in Washington.
His approach was that the two sides remained natural allies, and that it was necessary to reactivate channels that had cooled in recent years. “We have to walk together again.”Montserrat told ABC. “Europe and the United States share values, challenges and responsibilities. If we do not strengthen this relationship, others will occupy that space and we will lose the ability to influence decisions that affect our democracies.
In her meetings with political leaders and experts, Montserrat insisted that the European center-right wanted a stable relationship based on common interests: security, energy, economic competitiveness and defense of the single market. He explained that as well Spain must return to positions of influence in the United States There is room for practical initiatives, such as facilitating the retention of American students at European institutions, a proposal that has been welcomed for its potential to rebuild mutual knowledge.
The visit to Washington comes at a time of tension between the United States and Europe. Trump has distanced himself from many European capitals, and this week presented a new national security strategy that casts doubt on the European project and strikes an even tone with Russia in several areas. In this scenario, the Montserrat visit seeks to avoid a further deterioration in transatlantic relations and to remember that Europe remains an important partner for Washington.
“At a time when Europe is under skepticism from without and from within, it is our responsibility to make clear in Washington that we remain a reliable and necessary partner. Separated we lose our influence; “Together we continue to chart the course,” he says.
The trip has an important political context. Trump has joined the parties of the Patriotas Bloc, publicly recognized the Vox Party, said that Santiago Abascal should win the next election and maintain ties with leaders like Viktor Orbán or Nigel Farage. In this context, the presence of a European center-right leader is trying to restore balance to this map of affiliations and emphasize that dialogue with the United States should not be limited to the most extreme forces.
Bilateral relations have gone through different cycles. In the years of José María Aznar, the Republican Party maintained a notable rapprochement with Spain, which was broken during the government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. Later, Mariano Rajoy restored a cordial dialogue with Trump, who had shown interest in supporting Spain’s stability in the midst of Catalonia’s independence challenge crisis, and distanced himself from the illegal referendum of 2017. With Pedro Sánchez, the relationship was again eroded by non-compliance with defense spending commitments and a diplomatic shift with regard to Israel.
During her stay in Washington, Montserrat maintained an agenda of meetings that included meetings with the International Republican Institute, with officials from the Hudson Institute, with the team of Senator Steve Daines – Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Europe – and with former British Minister Priti Patel. He also spoke at the Catholic University of America and invited relevant delegations to attend the EPP Breakfast within the IDU Forum. His participation on the panel on how to stop the far right and win elections again completed a journey whose stated goal was to reposition the European center right against a White House that is redefining priorities and watching Europe from afar.