Dominique Trinquand on US-Europe Competition

The general Dominique Trinquandformer head of the French military mission to the UN, is a recognized specialist in defense and diplomacy issues (his latest enlightening work, From one world to anotheris still available). At the start of 2026, which is extremely fluid in terms of geostrategic balance of power (Venezuela, Iran, Cuba, Greenland), he agreed to take his time to answer my questions once again, I thank him for that. Excluded, Lyrics of’Actupar Nicolas Roche.

EXCLUDED – NEWS WORDS (01/11/2025)

Dominique Trinquand: « United States

are definitely a competitor

for Europe… »

From one world to another (Robert Laffont, October 2024).

A collapse of the Islamic Republic in Iran would be, considering what has made the news over the last fifty years, a considerable event. Does this outcome seem likely to you at this stage, and what consequences would it have, particularly on a regional scale?

I don’t know if it’s likely, but it’s hoped for. The mullahs’ regime is a criminal regime for the Iranian people, but also a factor of instability in the region (Houthis, Hezbollah, Hamas, Iraqi Shiite militias). Its fall would liberate the Iranian people and reduce threats to Israel, it would allow us to move on to dealing with the Palestinian question. This would be another major defeat for Russia, its ally, after the regime change in Syria. For China, it would be the loss of a second essential oil supplier after Venezuela. In short, a radical change in current geopolitics.

Is the takeover of Venezuela by Trump’s America likely to truly strengthen Washington’s control over the Western Hemisphere, or could it on the contrary increase the distrust and hostility of these peoples towards the United States? Put another way: have they shot down for good the soft power that they could still benefit from in the region?

Yes, I think that the US administration has moved from soft power to the use of force, which will undoubtedly arouse the distrust of many countries, particularly in Latin America…

250 years after the Declaration of Independence in 1776, do you believe that American democracy, as we have more or less known it since then, is today in serious danger?

American democracy is threatened by President Trump’s “moral” vision, in his own words…

Is the United States, under Trump, truly part of an imperial logic, which would make it a predator like the others, and should we in Europe draw the consequences? That we accept the idea that the Americans are no longer our allies? That we rearm ourselves, considering that even our historic partner could be an adversary tomorrow?

Yes, the United States has an imperial vision. Europeans must realize that they must defend themselves, not to expand, but to protect themselves. This does not mean that the United States is an adversary, but certainly a competitor…

How should Europe fare in the face of the new realities of the world? Raising our principles, our values, our conception of the rule of law and international law, will this always be, including among other peoples of the world, a major ace up our sleeve?

Yes, it is a major asset, but we must start by defining what these values ​​and our principles are. Concerning the rule of law, it must not be variable, but must respond to European interests.

A word about Gérard Chaliand, whom I interviewed several times and who left us last year: what will you remember about his person, his thoughts?

An extraordinary will and a permanent curiosity. With his experience, he was a wonderful source of reflection…

During our previous interview, you told me that you wanted to write your story for your children and grandchildren. What advice would you like to give to these latter, and to all the youngest, to help them prepare as best as possible for the increasingly worrying world that is emerging before our eyes?

The France that we inherited is in a European area of ​​extraordinary prosperity. It deserves to be defended and for that we must be strong, morally, intellectually, physically. You must prepare yourself to fight difficult battles. Give yourself the tools that will allow you to win.

Any last words?

The world is moving. Let us not look back, but give ourselves the means to win the world of tomorrow.

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