Instead, he argued that the forces that have led to the chasm in the trans-Atlantic relationship have been long in the making and that a more strategic approach to rebalance the relationship is required. Specifically, Maas called for a separate payment system to SWIFT (a Brussels-based company that facilitates global financial transactions) that would be insulated from US secondary sanctions. He also proposed a European Monetary Fund (EMF) that would act independently of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as well as a European Security and Defense Union — since European members of NATO "cannot rely on Washington" as much as they used to.

A European push for greater autonomy was bound to result from an intensifying wave of US unilateralism on tariff policy and secondary sanctions, as well as US quarrels with European partners over defense and energy matters. In May, French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire argued that Europe needs to reclaim its "economic sovereignty" after Washington withdrew from the Iran nuclear agreement. Germany's voice adds considerable firepower to this broader appeal.

Perhaps more significant is Maas' call for an independent payment system to insulate Europe from US secondary sanctions. Washington has threatened to sideline Iran from SWIFT as part of its maximum-pressure tactics to isolate Tehran from the global financial system. SWIFT, however, is a Belgium-based private company subject to EU laws, and Europe's present leaders largely oppose any new actions against the Islamic republic's banks, unlike their decision to participate in sanctions against Tehran six years ago. The United States could still try to sanction individual board members of SWIFT to punish the company for noncompliance, but this could harm a critical artery of the global financial system — not to mention ignite a serious diplomatic crisis with the European Union.