US-EU Alliance Faces Critical Test Amid Rising Diplomatic Tensions

By Noor Bakthtiar Ahmad

KUALA LUMPUR, March 7 (Bernama) -- The longstanding transatlantic alliance between the United States and the European Union (EU) faces a critical test, as recent policy shifts and diplomatic tensions increasingly challenge the foundations of this historic partnership.

Professor of ASEAN Studies at the Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation (ISTAC), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Prof. Dr. Phar Kim Beng, described the current challenges facing the transatlantic alliance as 'unparalleled,' signalling a major test of its resilience and a potential turning point in the decades-long partnership.

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“In terms of historical upheaval, what we are witnessing right now is almost unprecedented because the transatlantic relationship between the United States and the EU has always been strong since 1945, the end of World War II.

“The relationship has never been tested to the extent that it is now experiencing. So, in terms of the stress that is now being imposed on the transatlantic relationship, the world order is not unstable within that pillar,” he said this during an interview on Bernama TV’s programme, BERNAMA World, entitled "Is the World Order Changing?", held here on Friday.

While the transatlantic alliance faces uncertainty, Asia presents a contrasting picture with its stable security arrangements.

Phar highlighted the complex interplay of diplomacy, security, and leadership transitions in shaping international relations, emphasising how shifting power dynamics will impact global stability.

While the US-EU alliance faces mounting instability, he noted that Asia's security frameworks remain robust, characterised by distinct defence arrangements differing from those of the EU and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

“From the standpoint of Asia, our system of security assurances is still quite stable to the degree that there are no radical siege acts or anything totally unexpected from the White House,” he said.

Meanwhile, Phar also commented on the operational dynamics of US embassies worldwide, noting that many still have political appointees from previous administrations.

He emphasised that US embassies play a crucial role in shaping and maintaining diplomatic relationships, acting as key instruments of American foreign policy.

He suggested that the effectiveness of these embassies depends on the authority granted by Trump and directives from entities such as the National Security Council and the State Department.

"There are many American embassies, some specifically, that have not gone through proper housekeeping.

"In other words, there are political appointees from the previous administration of President Joe Biden. Whether the embassies can flex their muscles or not depends on the power and authority given by President Trump and, in the national spirit, the council, or even the State Department, to do their bidding in locations around the world," he said.

-- BERNAMA