🎧 Audio
📖 Script
The relationship between Europe and the United States has been a cornerstone of international politics for many decades. However, recent events have put this alliance under strain. One of the major reasons is the economic policies introduced by former President Donald Trump, including tariffs on European goods. These tariffs have made European products more expensive in the US, affecting trade between the two regions. As a result, European countries are considering reducing their economic dependence on the United States.
Another issue adding tension is the US’s expectation for Europe to increase its defense spending. The US has often urged European nations, many of which are part of NATO, to spend more on their military budgets. This pressure has led to debates within Europe about how much they should rely on American military support.
Additionally, the geopolitical interests of the two powers sometimes diverge. For example, the US’s interest in purchasing Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, raised eyebrows in Europe. While the offer was declined, it highlighted the different priorities and perspectives between the US and Europe.
These issues lead to the question: Can Europe afford to reduce its reliance on the United States? If Europe decides to become more independent, it might need to find new trade partners and increase its own defense capabilities. However, this could be costly and might lead to further complications in international relations.
In summary, while the US-Europe alliance remains strong, several factors are testing its durability. Europe faces tough decisions about how to balance its longstanding partnership with the US and its desire for more independence in global affairs.
📝 Vocabulary
- tariff: a tax on imports or exports
例文: “The government imposed a tariff on imported cars to protect local manufacturers.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- impose a tariff
- tariff barrier
- tariff rate
関税 - alliance: a union formed for mutual benefit
例文: “The two countries formed an alliance to strengthen their economic ties.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- military alliance
- strategic alliance
- form an alliance
同盟 - dependence: the state of relying on someone or something
例文: “The country’s dependence on oil imports is a major economic issue.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- economic dependence
- heavy dependence
- reduce dependence
依存 - geopolitical: relating to politics influenced by geographical factors
例文: “Geopolitical tensions have increased in the region due to border disputes.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- geopolitical strategy
- geopolitical tension
- geopolitical interests
地政学的 - budget: an estimate of income and expenditure for a set period of time
例文: “The government announced a new budget to boost the economy.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- annual budget
- budget cut
- budget surplus
予算
✏️ Grammar Point
Conditional Sentences – “If Europe decides to become more independent, it might need to find new trade partners.”
文法の日本語補足を見る
💡 使用場面
条件付きの状況や仮定の話をする際に使います。
📝 使用例文
“例: In a business meeting, you might say: ‘If we cut costs now, we can increase our profit margin next quarter.’”
❓ Listening Questions
- True/False: Europe is considering increasing its economic dependence on the United States.
- MCQ: What has caused European products to become more expensive in the US?
a) Increased production costs
b) Trump’s tariffs
c) US’s defense spending
d) Geopolitical interests - MCQ: What does the US want Europe to do in terms of defense?
a) Decrease defense spending
b) Increase defense spending
c) Maintain current defense spending
d) Focus on non-military areas
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
- False
- b) Trump’s tariffs
- b) Increase defense spending
📚 Reading Questions
- What are some factors putting strain on the US-Europe alliance?
- Why do you think Europe might want to reduce its reliance on the US?
- What does the word “durability” mean in this context?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
- Tariffs and defense spending are factors.
- To have more independence and find new trade partners.
- Strength or ability to withstand challenges.
🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説
近年、欧州とアメリカ合衆国の関係は、トランプ元大統領による関税政策や防衛費増額圧力などで緊張しています。欧州はアメリカへの経済的依存を減らし、自立を目指す動きを見せていますが、そのためには新たな貿易相手を見つけ、防衛能力を強化する必要があります。これには多大なコストが伴う可能性があり、国際関係における複雑さが増す懸念もあります。将来的には、欧州がどのようにアメリカとのバランスを取りながら自立を進めていくのかが注目されます。
