by Daniel Dăianu

Abstract: The logic of realpolitik dominates once more the international relations
in a world buffeted by multiple challenges and shocks – economic and geopolitical shocks,
societal crises, backsliding into authoritarianism, rising protectionism and the erosion
of multilateralism in international relations, climate change, the impact of artificial
intelligence/AI, etc. The EU can no longer rely unconditionally on its strongest NATO ally
(the US), and the new budgetary dilemmas entailed by the need to strengthen its own
defence will likely ask for difficult policy trade-offs that could add to social discontent. At
its creation, the EU’s primary aim was to safeguard peace on the European continent while
the US provided a strong security backstop. Over the decades, this aim has been gradually
eclipsed by the goal of economic prosperity or of regaining vigour (as in recent years), but
lately it has come again to the forefront, as the ghosts of past animosities and ordeals haunt
the European continent, with a war of attrition raging at its gates. The highly turbulent
and uncertain international context complicates Romania’s dire budgetary situation.
Fiscal consolidation is a must for Romania’s economic security, as it suffers from an acute
“twin deficits” syndrome. Europe needs badly a new security architecture, which requires
US involvement as well. The EU needs to get a new momentum.

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