Submission statement: an article exploring how an apparently benign spat over religious freedoms in Belgium is revealing of a departure from traditional diplomatic conducts to serve a more aggressive US foreign policy towards Europe.
The trigger event: Belgium allows for circumcision but requires that a medically trained person be present during the procedure. Three mohalim (Jewish practicioners of circumcision) from Antwerp are currently under investigation for not respecting legal procedures, after they were reported by a local rabbi concerned about a spike in infections in the city.
The reaction: Bill White, the US ambassador to Belgium, has seized the moment and demanded Belgium terminate the investigation, accusing the Belgian government of antisemitism. The accusation was rejected by the Belgian Foreign Minister, Maxime Prévot, who said White had violated his diplomatic reserve, and summoned the US ambassador for explanations.
The escalation: Bill White refused to apologize, and countered with accusations of Belgian interference in US politics after Conner Rousseau, leader of the Flemish Socialists (Vooruit), a part of PM De Wever's government, compared ICE to Nazi troops. White announced yesterday that Conner Rousseau was now targeted by a US visa ban, sharply escalating the diplomatic altercation between the two countries, who need deep cooperation on European legislation and security matters.
The broader context: Bill White is not an exception among Trump-appointed US ambassadors in Europe; Charles Kushner, the US ambassador to France, also accused the country of antisemitism over its recognition of the State of Palestine and was summoned twice for explanations, the latest this week after commenting the killing of a far-right activist in France and linking it to US domestic matters; in Poland, ambassador Tom Rose backed the PiS opposition over the ruling Tusk government, and severed diplomatic relations with the Sejm's Speaker Wlodzimierz Czarzasty after the latter commented that Trump wouldn't deserve a Nobel Peace Prize.
Posted by RaidBrimnes
4 Comments
!ping BENE&EUROPE
The fact that the US engages in wolf warrior diplomacy now is very depressing
Wolf warrior diplomacy, USA
I’d call it even stupider but regular wolf warrior diplomacy is really dumb too
If you went back in time and tried to explain how Donald Trump is president and how we’re now interfering with other countries for investigating regulation violations regarding circumcision, you’d be sent to a loony bin and have the key thrown away.