Meeting Trump on common ground

PRAGUE — Since his election in November, U.S. President Donald Trump has cast doubt on his commitment to NATO and downplayed the importance of a united Europe. These remarks have caused anxiety in European capitals, leaving many on the Continent concerned about the transatlantic relationship that has been so important to us.

But we shouldn’t give in to panic too soon. Trump deserves the benefit of the doubt, and it is important to remember there are at least two parties to every relationship. It is incumbent upon Europe — and very much in our interest — to make a convincing case for our enduring partnership with the U.S. The best way to do this is to identify the areas where our interests coincide and work together to further them. On that score, we need look no further than the war-torn Middle East.

Both the U.S. and Europe have indicated they are ready to do more to address the security threats emanating from the region. Indeed, reining in the Islamic State has been one of the central pillars of Trump’s stated foreign policy.

The terror organization has destabilized the Middle East and inspired Islamic extremists around the globe to commit atrocities in its name. But while the Islamic State’s territory in Iraq and Syria has been shrinking in recent months thanks to great sacrifices by local forces and to the U.S.-led international effort, we cannot risk leaving an unfinished conflict to simmer.

U.S. leadership is crucial to the global coalition against the Islamic State, which includes more than 60 countries. And Europe, too, plays a pivotal role.

The Middle East is in a dire situation. In Iraq, the embattled central government is under serious political and economic stress, a strain compounded by large numbers of internally displaced people. Meanwhile large parts of Syria lie in ruin. Postwar reconstruction and reconciliation will be a gargantuan task.

U.S. leadership is crucial to the global coalition against the Islamic State, which includes more than 60 countries. And Europe, too, plays a pivotal role.

Every NATO and EU member country is participating in the coalition. Some are providing direct military assistance. Others have specialized in training local security forces or providing humanitarian aid. The EU is also providing training and funding in North Africa and the Middle East to combat violent extremism. And both NATO and the EU are considering sending assistance to Libya, a country slowly emerging from a protracted civil war that could become an important strategic partner.

The Czech Republic, for example, has donated ammunition and military equipment to Iraqi forces, trained Iraqi pilots and deployed medical teams to treat wounded soldiers. It will soon join other European countries in launching training programs for Iraqi policemen that can help stabilize newly liberated territories. Prague has also provided humanitarian aid to Syrian civilians, and it is the only EU member with an ambassadorial presence in the country.

Europe has already demonstrated it can be a valuable partner in tackling current challenges in the Middle East. Now it must aspire to play an even greater role — and here Trump can also be a partner.

Europe should welcome Trump’s efforts to eradicate the Islamic State. But we should not dupe ourselves into believing that accomplishing our mission ends with depriving the terror group of its territory.

The Islamic State’s ideology has proven it has the resilience to survive and mutate by whatever means necessary. Even now, it continues to attract fighters from across the world.

There is no greater priority than keeping our citizens safe from the threat of terrorism, and neither the U.S. nor Europe can achieve this goal on its own.

Cutting off its funding and followers will require long-term commitment and cannot be accomplished by military means alone. A momentous task lies ahead in Iraq and Syria. Long-term stability will depend on the restoration of local institutions, the creation of jobs and the installment of a well-trained police force to deprive extremists of their breeding ground.

There is no greater priority than keeping our citizens safe from the threat of terrorism, and neither the U.S. nor Europe can achieve this goal on its own. Working together to defeat the Islamic State and stabilize the Middle East will be an opportunity to reinforce our transatlantic partnership. Let’s not waste it.

Jan Hamáček is speaker of the lower house of the Czech parliament.