By Cheng Anqi

程安琪

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signed the Joint Declaration on NATO-EU Cooperation at NATO headquarters in early January. Public opinion generally believes that this declaration looks like an "official announcement of partnership" between the EU and NATO. It actually reflects the embarrassment and helplessness of Europe because it is difficult to conceal the huge differences in interest appeals of the two sides.

1月上旬，北约秘书长斯托尔滕贝格、欧洲理事会主席米歇尔和欧盟委员会主席冯德莱恩在北约总部共同签署合作联合宣言。对此，舆论分析普遍认为，这份宣言看似欧盟与北约的“友好官宣”，实则折射出欧洲的尴尬与无奈，双方表面热络的背后难掩利益诉求上的巨大分歧。

After the end of the Cold War, the contradictions between the US and Russia has not only did not fundamentally be resolved, but continued to intensify due to NATO's continuous eastward expansion. As a result, Europe has increasingly become a background board for people to smear in the intensified confrontation. The Ukrainian crisis is ostensibly an armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine, but in fact it is the result of a carefully planned scheme of "killing many birds with one stone" by the US.

冷战结束后，美俄矛盾不仅未从根本上得到解决，反而因北约持续东扩不断加剧，而欧洲则在愈演愈烈的对抗中日益沦为供人肆意涂抹的背景板。此次乌克兰危机表面上是俄乌之间的武装冲突，实质上却是美国精心策划、企图“一石多鸟”的算计所致。

The US-led NATO has been adding fuel to the fire and stimulating Russia's security nerves since the outbreak of the conflict. In response to the increasingly severe security situation and military pressure, Russia has no choice but to strengthen its military power and frequently demonstrate its strategic deterrence capabilities.

冲突爆发以来，以美国为首的北约上蹿下跳、添薪加火，刺激着俄安全神经。为了应对日趋严峻的安全形势和军事压力，俄罗斯不得不加紧强化军力，频繁展示战略威慑能力。

Today, Europe is shrouded in the cloud of a "new cold war", and its economic warning lights are also flashing. However, the US is taking advantage of Europe with huge industrial subsidies and overbearing clauses to curb competition, which seriously damages the interests of European countries and pushes its already precarious economy to the verge of collapse.

如今，欧洲不仅被“新冷战”阴云所笼罩，其经济的警示灯也在闪着红光。然而，欧洲“随美起舞”换来的却是美国的趁火打劫，其中包含巨额产业补贴和遏制竞争的霸道条款，严重损害欧洲各国利益，导致其原本就岌岌可危的经济濒临崩溃。

Many professional analyses pointed out that for European countries seeking security and development, strengthening ties with NATO may plunge them into a vortex of conflict and confrontation.

诸多专业分析指出，对于谋求安全与发展的欧洲各国来说，与北约加强捆绑有可能使自己深陷冲突与对抗的漩涡。

The EU is an important pole in the international landscape, which advocates peace, stability, and development. NATO, on the other hand, was originally a tool built by the US to coerce European countries to the east for continuous geopolitical squeeze and military deterrence. There are conflicts and turmoil throughout the regions where NATO has intervened. This is contrary to the original intention of the establishment of the EU.

欧盟是国际格局中的重要一极，主张和平、稳定与发展。反观北约，起初就是美国一手搭建的、裹挟欧洲国家向东不断进行地缘挤压和军事威慑的工具。纵观北约曾经插手干涉过的地区，无不充斥着冲突和动荡，而这与欧盟成立的初衷背道而驰。

In fact, European countries do not have a strong desire for Ukraine to join NATO. However, after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, many European countries have increased their defense investment. This shows that the US has successfully sold anxiety. Strengthening Europe's dependence on NATO will undoubtedly greatly strengthen the US's strategic grip on Europe.

实际上，欧洲国家对乌克兰加入北约并没有强烈意愿，然而俄乌冲突爆发后，欧洲多国纷纷加大国防投入，说明美国成功贩卖了焦虑。强化欧洲对北约的依赖，无疑将极大增强美国对欧洲的战略钳制。

Europe has been pushed to the front line of confrontation with Russia while the US is watching the show at a safe distance. The US passed on the cost of confrontation with Russia to Europe, which is to pass on the risks and contradictions to Europe. Under such circumstances, Europe should really evaluate the decision of signing a joint declaration of cooperation with NATO and further concentrate European defense dominance in the hands of the US based on its own real interests.

眼下，欧洲被推到了与俄罗斯对抗的前线，美国自己则隔岸观火。美国将与俄罗斯对抗的成本转嫁给欧洲，就是将风险和矛盾转嫁给欧洲。这种情况下，与北约签署合作联合宣言，将欧洲防务主导权进一步向美国手中集中，这到底是福还是祸，欧洲确实应该基于自身现实利益好好评估一番。