Joint Syria strikes build US-EU trust ahead of critical Iran deadline
With the UK and France joining the United States in strikes over Syria’s chemical weapons use, trust is growing between the Trump and European national security teams ahead of a key May deadline on the Iran nuclear deal.
WASHINGTON — With the United States joined by the United Kingdom and France in strikes targeting Syrian chemical weapons-related facilities last weekend, trust and coordination have been growing between US President Donald Trump’s national security team and those of once-wary European allies, according to US and European officials.
“One thing that has been quietly happening is a very close relationship amongst the different national security teams so that everyone knows everyone else, everyone understands everyone else’s intent … and the places in which we can pursue opportunities to accomplish shared goals,” a senior Trump administration official, speaking not for attribution, said on a White House call April 14 after the joint US-UK-French strikes on Syrian chemical weapons-related facilities.
While the relationship between Trump and key European leaders has been bumpy, growing experience working closely together on critical Middle East and international counterproliferation issues may be good news for prospects for striking an eventual accord on preserving the Iran nuclear deal. Trump is due to host French President Emmanuel Macron for his first state visit on April 24. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is scheduled to meet with Trump at the White House on April 27.
Trump has said he won’t renew Iran sanctions waivers at the next deadline of May 12 if the United States and three European powers (E3) — Britain, France and Germany — can’t strike an accord on toughening their joint stance on Iran.
