The editorial. Without union, no Europe...

Facing Donald Trump in the White House or anywhere else in the Western world, since he believes his dominance is everywhere, is like finding yourself in the shoes of a high school student summoned to the principal's office. We know we're going to have a bad time.

Volodymyr Zelensky was the first to experience this bitter experience. The episode was particularly brutal and, in hindsight, completely counterproductive. Others have since faced a US president convinced he had every right. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, for example, and, most recently, Ursula von der Leyen, on Sunday in Scotland, at one of the American tycoon's properties. Quite symbolic.

"America First" is an incomplete slogan; we must add "everywhere, any time." At least, everywhere in the "Western world." Because it is certain that the American president will not play this game with Xi Jinping.

This is very bad news for Europe, to have a historic ally that no longer behaves, in any way, as a partner. Neither strategically—within NATO—nor diplomatically—in the Middle East crisis—nor commercially, as we see with the agreement on customs tariffs imposed on the European Commission. Is there any area left in which Donald Trump could shatter our last illusions?

Ursula von der Leyen was not weak. She had no choice but to surrender. It was Europe, once again, that arrived disunited. In defense matters, in the face of climate issues, in diplomacy, as in trade, Donald Trump does not consider the price to be paid by his interlocutors, but only the profit to be made from a situation to finance and carry out his political project in the United States.

Europe must raise its head and has no choice but to deepen collaboration in all these areas. And this cannot be done with 27 members...