Russia's sanctions worsen the relationship between Europe and the United States

Behind the US sanctions on Russia, there is also a question about Europe, contrary to some side effects, which would produce negative aspects for EU companies. Specifically, Washington has decided to include in the sanctions all those commercial entities that participate in projects with Moscow in the area of ​​energy supply. This case is part of the NordStream gas pipeline, still under construction and intended to supply the German country. It is understood, then, that the position expressed by the German Ministry of Economic Affairs has been very urgent with the European Commission to ensure that adequate countermeasures are taken. Against this background, the American measure could violate international law, because it would apply sanctions, not so much for matters of international order, but in retaliation of the Russian interference in the US elections, it would be a bilateral relationship that would invest in affiliated parties To third parties. The fear is that the US wants to exploit the sanctions, even in order to derive an associated economic advantage, hurting European companies. Certainly, the issue is not easy to interpret, because within the grounds of sanctions there is not only Russian interference in US elections, but also the Ukrainian and Syrian issues. The fact remains that in the effects of the sanctions there is a clear element of protectionism in favor of American businesses dealing with energy, which would benefit from European ones. Interpreted in this light, the effects of the sanctions would take on the features of protectionism in full accord with Trump's intentions, to support and protect the business and work of the United States. But the US president is opposed to these sanctions and will have to sign them against his will and this damages his international policy programs, which envisaged approaching Putin. From a political point of view, therefore, there is a clear divide in the United States between the military environments, along with the industrial ones and the White House. This does not favor a continuous and coherent relationship with Europe, which faces decisions that often go in the opposite direction. In this specific case, Brussels has dealt with sanctions against Russia, with a possible recourse to the World Trade Organization. Greater aversion to US administration comes from German Chancellor Merkel, who has expressly stated that Europe can no longer count on the American alliance, as it had been before. Dissatisks between Trump and Merkel were known, but with this new comparing matter the distance seems to increase and the United States seems to slip into a more and more delineated isolation. It should be recalled that closer relations between Europe and China, on issues of free trade and climate, have been made, arguments that until the presidency were common and shared between Washington and Brussels. But if you look at another angle, the story of the sanctions is unpublished, because the measures against Russia have not been elaborated by the White House, but by the Congress, where the American president is increasingly born, even inside the His party. The inclusion in sanctions of the clause against companies that cooperate with Russia on energy projects opens up scenarios of convergence between the highest monarchical American office and the parliament, highlighting the will to establish a sort of protectionism concealed for diplomatic reasons, In favor of US companies. The signal is that the attitude towards the free market, this time in a delicate sector such as energy, in the homeland of liberalism is changing; Internationally this closure implies a lower American propensity to international relations, which would not only affect the President's attitude, but would be shared by a wider institutional platform. Trump's election is, therefore, exaggerating, beyond the exaggeration of the country's most eminent position, that in American society there may be a desire to isolate, as a result of the relationship between historically allied states.