INTERVIEW: Trump won’t take EU defence efforts seriously, ex-US ambassador says

Fears that EU talk on boosting the bloc’s mutual defence clause could lead Donald Trump to downgrade Washington’s commitment to NATO’s Article 5 are overblown, the US ambassador to the EU under Barack Obama, Anthony Gardner, told Euractiv in an interview.

“The talk about a common European defence is too early,” Gardner said, just days after US President Donald Trump announced his decision to pull troops out of Germany. “Europe has to walk before it runs – common procurement, better spending.”

Gardner, who is now an advisor to a global investment firm, does not share capitals’ fear of upsetting Trump by talking mutual defence in the EU, which is covered under Article 42.7. “I can’t believe that argument is being used. I don’t think Donald Trump cares,” he said.

As earlier reported by Euractiv, the EU’s diplomatic wing has been drafting a handbook explaining what kind of resources are available if the 42.7 clause is triggered. The best way for the EU to…