The United States and the European Union are increasingly in conflict with each other's policies. One recent area of controversy is the proposal of an International Criminal Court. The United States strenuously objects to the court having authority over its citizens, citing fears that American soldiers would be inappropriately subject to trial by such a court. President Bush warns the Europeans that pressing the United States on this issue could seriously damage the NATO partnership.

This is but one of many major policy differences between the United States and the European Union that are stressing their relationship. The others include:

• Trade. The United States is restricting imports of EU steel. At the same time, the European Union is pressing the United States to pay $4 billion in punitive damages, alleging unfair subsidization of American businesses.
• Missile defense. The European Union objects to the U.S. proposal for a missile defense shield.
• Global warming. EU leaders are joining the chorus of environmentalists criticizing the U.S. failure to ratify the Kyoto treaty.
• The Balkans. To the chagrin of the Europeans, the current U.S. administration is signaling an intention to pull back its military from Bosnia and Kosovo.
• UN ban on military sales to Iraq. The Europeans' economic ties to the Middle East are strong. EU companies would like to continue lucrative trade in military items, while the Americans and British are sponsoring a UN resolution to tighten a ban on the sale of military products.
• Land mine treaties. Citing fear for the safety of their troops in South Korea, the United States opposes treaties to abolish land mines. There's strong support within the EU nations to abolish land mines entirely.

The major issue coming between the superpower and the superpower-in-the-making is the consideration of invading Iraq to topple Saddam Hussein. Because the United States so overwhelmingly dominates the entire world in terms of military power, European bristling will amount to nothing-for the present. If President Bush decides to order American forces to invade Iraq, the European Union will likely reluctantly come on board. Far more dependent upon Middle Eastern oil than the United States, the Europeans have more to lose in the event of a catastrophic failure of such a venture. Additionally, the European Union has many closer economic and political alliances with the Middle East than does the United States. Nonetheless, the European Union cannot go it alone...yet.

—Sources: FOXNews, Coalition for the International Criminal Court.