The Trans-Atlantic Relationship is obsolete!

There can be no dispute that America was in a sense an extension of the European civilization. At the same time, the United States of America has developed its own identity for the past couple of centuries. There have been some ups and downs in the bilateral relationship between Europe and the US over the same period of time. The division of influence after World War II, between the Soviet Union and the United States, brought Europe closer to its traditional ally. But things started to change after the collapse of the much despised Soviet Empire. Europe got busy with the European Union and the newly independent Eastern Europe. The United States started to look at other opportunities in Asia, Latin America and the African continent.

The process of looking beyond Europe and Japan started with President Bill Clinton. It was more in reaction to the events rather than any specific vision of his administration. Clinton even visited India in March 2000, after a gap of 22 years and initiated some bilateral initiatives. According to Strobe Talbott, Deputy Secretary of State in Clinton administration, Bill Clinton did not understand the significance of this opportunity till he left office. Clinton had a typical European mind-set same as Senator John McCain. It is to the credit of George W Bush administration, that it actually developed a serious foreign policy towards China and India. President Bush has actually taken the time to think this through and initiated a forward policy towards Asia. History would give him credit for making this investment!