A French Political Scientist Responds to the Trump Shockwave

02/21/25 • 50 min

Get ready to explore the turbulent waters of transatlantic relations with our guest, French political scientist Celia Berlin. Discover how the Trump administration's controversial actions, including remarks from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance, have sent ripples across Europe, particularly in response to the tensions over Ukraine. With President Macron at the helm, rallying European leaders to counter these shifts, Celia provides a nuanced perspective on the strategic and emotional dynamics at play in European capitals as they brace for potentially profound changes in US foreign policy.
We'll navigate the shifting political currents within Europe, where figures like Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Marine Le Pen are recalibrating their positions in light of global developments. As we dissect the responses from the far-right, including Germany's AfD and France's Reconquête, you'll gain insight into how these parties are juggling admiration for Trump with the real-world implications of his alignment with Kremlin narratives. The episode also delves into JD Vance's incendiary address at the Munich Security Conference, sparking dialogue on free speech, political realignments, and the future of European security.
As we round out our discussion, we'll confront the broader implications of a potential second Trump administration on the transatlantic alliance, exploring how European leaders are responding to the existential question of strategic autonomy. From Macron's calls for a European army to the historical context of French skepticism towards NATO, we assess Europe's readiness to assert its significance in global affairs amid unsettling US rhetoric. Immerse yourself in this comprehensive examination of a relationship under strain and the strategies European leaders are employing to navigate these uncharted waters.

Speakers:
J. Alex Tarquinio (host). @alextarquinio of @delegateslounge on X.
https://foreignpolicy.com/author/j-alex-tarquinio/
Célia Belin, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations and head
of its Paris office (guest). @celiabelin on X.
https://ecfr.eu/profile/celia-belin/
References:
The host has quoted the guest in the following Foreign Policy articles.
Macron’s China Trip Is a Fool’s Errand
https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/04/06/macron-france-china-visit-pension-protests/
Putin’s War is Shaking Up the French Election
https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/03/10/russia-war-france-elections-macron/
The Education of Pap Ndiaye
https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/07/17/france-politics-culture-war-education-pap-ndiaye-education-minister/

Previous Episode

Reflections on Diplomatic Frontlines: Ukraine's Ambassador to the UN Speaks Out

We’re beginning our second season in conversation with Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Nations, Sergiy Kyslytsya. As listeners will recall, he challenged Russia’s representative to the United Nations during a late-night emergency session of the UN Security Council three years ago, when Russia launched a predawn invasion of his country during the meeting. We sat down with the Distinguished Representative of Ukraine earlier this month at his country’s mission to the United Nations for an exclusive exit interview, as his dramatic tenure at the United Nations is drawing to a close.
Speakers:
J. Alex Tarquinio (host). @alextarquinio of @delegateslounge on X.
H.E. Sergiy Kyslytsya, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations (guest). @SergiyKyslytsya of @UKRinUN on X.
References:
The music from this social event that you hear briefly in the podcast was performed by the Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York.
https://dumkachorus.org/about
The Ukrainian ambassador challenged the Russian representative when Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began during an emergency session of the UN Security Council.
https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1j/k1j8unn1me
During the U.S. Senate confirmation hearing of the UN ambassador designate of the United States, the nominee was asked about the following presidential executive order.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/reevaluating-and-realigning-united-states-foreign-aid/
The exchange can be heard here at the 2:10-minute mark. The hearing discussed humanitarian aid for Ukrainian war refugees at the 2:24-minute mark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeL1yQpGidg
The United States is the largest contributor to the UN budget overall and to various UN programs and agencies, which is further explained in this Foreign Policy article by our podcast host.
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/01/17/un-ambassador-elise-stefanik-hearing-confirmation-trump/
The ambassador gave a lecture at the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics organized by the Center for Russian, East European, & Eurasian Studies.
https://www.kansan.com/news/ku-alum-and-ukraine-u-n-ambassador-returns-to-ku/article_69e0ae9a-a29c-11ef-a028-bbad4cd36edd.html
Some related links to the farewell party for Ukraine’s UN ambassador at the Ukrainian Institute of America.
http://bit.ly/4gcUp3F
https://ukrainianinstitute.org/
https://veselka.com/pages/veselka-the-movie

Next Episode

Slovenia’s Ambassador Pulls Back the Curtain on a Surprise Act at the UN

As the world marked the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Monday, competing resolutions at the United Nations brought tensions within the international community to the forefront. This episode dives deep into the diplomatic maneuvering and dueling agendas, revealing the complexities that reshape alliances and influence decisions made at the United Nations. As our host explains, the anniversary this week was Act One in a three-act tragedy that culminated in the Oval Office on Friday, February 28.
The guest in this episode, Samuel Zbogar, Slovenia's UN ambassador who sits on the UN Security Council, offers invaluable insights into the intricacies of the negotiation process and the challenges faced by countries seeking to support Ukraine against ongoing aggression. Listeners are treated to a vivid narrative highlighting the unexpected shift in United States foreign policy and its implications for Ukraine and the broader geopolitical landscape. What does it mean when one of the most significant military powers distances itself from traditional allies? The final act played out in the Oval Office on Friday, when Ukrainian President Voldomyr Zelenskyy was bushwhacked as both the U.S. president and vice president accused him of being disrepectful and unthankful.

There is a bonus segment with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski explaining how he was lied to over Shaheed drones by Iran, one of which was on display across from the UN.
Speakers:

J. Alex Tarquinio (host). @alextarquinio of @delegateslounge on X.

Samuel Zbogar (guest). @Samuel_Zbogar of @SLOtoUN

References:

The host wrote about Slovenia's election to the UN Security Council in Foreign Policy.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/06/09/belarus-slovenia-russia-united-nations-security-council-rotating-seat/

Alex also wrote about the confirmation hearing of Elise Stefanik for United States Ambassador to the United Nations.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/01/17/un-ambassador-elise-stefanik-hearing-confirmation-trump/

We'll add photos and videos of the Iranian Shahed drone display on our social media.

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The Delegates Lounge - A French Political Scientist Responds to the Trump Shockwave

Transcript

J. Alex Tarquinio00:00:08.492

Welcome to the Delegates Lounge . Pull up a chair . I'm Alex Tarquinio , a journalist based at the United Nations here in New York City and your emcee for this podcast featuring some of the most influential minds in the world today . Settle in for some riveting tete-a-tete , available wherever you listen to podcasts .

J. Alex Tarquinio00:00:38.680

Welcome