Europe is weighing the impact of the Trump administration on regional cooperation

BREMEN, Germany – The election of Donald Trump as president is causing tension in European society, with some seeking to increase spending on regional capabilities to reduce dependence on the United States.

During meetings at the Space Tech Expo Europe conference here and on the sidelines, officials expressed concern that the “America first” approach promoted by Trump during his election campaign could weaken cooperation with Europe. in the civil and military sphere during his administration.

“It is noticeable that our long-term and good partner, the USA, will change its priorities in the future,” said Kristina Vogt, the senate of economy, ports and reform for the German state of Bremen, in a keynote speech at the Nov. 19.

Although he said that it is not clear how the priorities will change, “if the USA takes the same course in the space sector as it has already announced in other industrial sectors, this will mean weak transatlantic cooperation in times of global crisis.”

That cooperation, in the view of some in Europe, has become dependent on the United States. Others have cited the need for the European Space Agency and the European Commission to use SpaceX for the launch of science and navigation satellites given the delays with Ariane 6 and problems with the Vega C rockets.

“It’s really not an encouraging idea to rely on someone like Elon Musk,” said Andreas Bovenschulte, president of the senate and mayor of Bremen, during a side event at the conference. “If we need a common goal to improve European independence, then, after the election, we have every reason to do so.”

He predicted the election would be a “game changer” for German and European regional policy. “The goal of being autonomous in space is going to have more and more activity in the coming weeks and months, and I think that’s a good development.”

Others believed that there would be an impetus to build the capacity of the European region. “I think it is very important in a situation where there is an increasing dependence on a player who may not cooperate well, to create an internal market with our needs,” said Hermann Ludwig Moeller, director of the European Space Policy Institute. ESPI), during a group meeting Nov. 19. “When we build rockets – and we should – we should build what’s inside those rockets and a record of why you need those things.”

“I think you shouldn’t waste a good deal,” said Phil Chambers, chief executive of car startup Orbex, on the panel. He said that Musk’s role in advising Trump after the election means that “US start-up companies will have a greater competitive advantage in the market, which gives us more reason to create independent European capacity.” ”

He suggested that would help strengthen relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union on regional programs after Britain leaves the EU. “I think this will now give us the momentum to move forward, hopefully, to bring Britain and the EU together sooner.”

Greater spending in the region can be linked to a possible increase in the use of European funds. “The coming presidency of Trump will be an unpleasant time for Europe but also an opportunity for Europe to finally develop this capacity that we need so much,” said Sven Meyer-Brunswick, principal of the capital fund. capital Alpine Space Ventures, during another meeting Nov. 20. “We hope that this is the way Europe should go forward.”

Pierre Godart, the chief financial officer of ArianeGroup and the chief executive of its German subsidiary, ArianeGroup GmbH, had high hopes that the cooperation between the US and Europe in space will remain as a force in the Trump administration. “We cooperate very well with our friends in the United States through various programs,” said Nov. 19, as a proposal for the European Service Module for NASA’s Orion spacecraft.

“What will the relationship between Europe and the US be? To be honest, no one knows as of today,” he said. “I wish it would continue and that we would continue to have good cooperation very much.”

German concerns

Concerns about changes in US-Europe space cooperation are particularly acute in Germany because of political tensions there. The ruling “traffic light” coalition in the federal government collapsed earlier this month, setting the stage for elections as soon as March, months earlier than originally planned.

German officials at the conference are worried about the outcome of the new government as well as plans to reduce government spending on the region by 12%. Any reduction in German space use, including contributions to ESA, will embarrass the country and its space industry, as will the next ESA ministerial meeting in Bremen in November 2025.

“This will not only damage the space industry but also the European space program in general and European cooperation in this sector,” said Bovenschulte. Since Bremen provides services to companies such as Airbus, ArianeGroup and OHB, he said he is working with other German countries with a large space industry “to ensure that Germany remains and a reliable part of the European region.”

Others argue that Germany should spend more, not less, on space. ESPI’s Moeller noted that while Germany is Europe’s largest economy, France spends twice as much on space as a share of its GDP. He said: “If there is one place in Europe that needs to go up, I think it is on the German side.”

He said there is a case for a significant increase in the use of German territory for economic and security reasons, topics that he says may be important in the upcoming federal elections. “I think there’s a big point to be made about the economic value and the security value and the security of space in this election.”

“I hope that there will be a change and I expect it a little bit” in the area of ​​the German government, said Sabine von der Recke, a member of the OHB board, during the Nov. 19. “The next German government will face challenges affecting European space policy and European ambitions.”

He said that the next government will increase defense spending, which he says opens the door to spending more money in space, referring to the dual use of space assets. “We should spend less time in space because whatever we do in space, we can also apply it to our military, defense and security.”

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