Donald Trump has not invented the American tradition of warding off our friends like a bad prom date (ask the Kurds, Afghan interpreters or someone who sat “Rambo: First Blood Part II” by sat). Since he returned to office, he has taken it too frequently bad habit and did it official US policy.
The latest example? Trump's conclusion that Volodymyr Zelensky, the leader of Ukraine – knows that the country is currently being transformed by Russian rockets in rubbish – is “not ready for peace” and that he “does not respect the United States of America”. This latter statement (live on television during a heated Oval Office meeting) came shortly after Trump to call him a “dictator”.
If the irony were a source of renewable energies, Trump's rhetoric could operate the United States for a century. Because while Trump Zelensky throws under the bus, his real swarm, Vladimir Putin – the guy Serially accused of poisoning journalistsThe type, whose Critics tend to be dead, detained or banishedThe guy who wins “elections” through suspicious, predictable landslides – one runs out here actually Dictatorship. His troops are Rape of the Ukrainian womenAccording to the investigators; His forces are Kidnap And Flattening cities. But yes, that real The problem is the chosen guide who tries to stop them.
It would be difficult to overestimate how quickly this relationship fell apart. In the event that you missed it, Trump took it on Negotiate the fate of Ukraine without having the Ukraine in the room. His team also brought an “offer” for Ukraine directly from “The Pate”: hand over some mineral rights as “repayment” for our earlier help, and maybe we will think about it Let your country continue to defend. Perhaps.
And if that was not humiliating enough, during this above -mentioned Oval Office meeting, JD Vance, JD Vance, the things to a new low point in which a Zelensky, which is suitable for WWE, was suitable as international diplomacy for the WWE via televisionval office attack.
During the exchange, Vance Zelensky called “disrespectful” and said that he should be more grateful to Trump. The collision that was broadcast for the world was not just a political step – it was a calculated act of deterioration that reinforced the message that Ukraine under Trump would start for every ball. It was a diplomatic disaster and a propaganda gift to Moscow, all of which were rolled into one.
It doesn't matter that we assured Ukraine (before and after Russia's invasion) that we would have their back. If we break this promise – it seems, we are ready to do, the consequences of Kyiv will not stop. The message will pass far beyond Ukraine into our allies (who watch nervously) and our enemies (make the notes).
For most of a century, America's foreign policy has been due to this: we have most of the bills and prevent bullies from rolling through weaker sovereign states. In return, we get a world that behaves (mostly).
However, Trump looks at this deal with advantageous deal and assumes that he will be “cheated”. He sees NATO like a group meal in which all other lobsters order and he believes that he is sticking to the invoice.
Why should we pay for security? Why should we defend our allies?
Uh because it prevents the world from becoming a burning garbage container fire.
The alternative is far worse: allies either (including nuclear weapons) or they start to make new, less relevant friends. None of the scenario ends well for the USA
Let's talk about our allies. Germany is to be awakened, which – if you even read a single history book that was published after 1945 – may make you a bit restless.
That is, the free world can need Germany to strengthen when the USA withdraws from the global stage, as Homer Simpson disappears into the bushes.
“My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as soon as possible so that … We can really reach independence from the USA” Friedrich Merz said Before the final results of his choice were even announced. “After Donald Trump's statements finally last week, it is clear that the Americans … are largely indifferent to the fate of Europe.”
Trump's recent statements alleged: “The European Union was formed to screw the United States. … and you did a good job. ” In reality, and blucPresent The EU represents our largest trading partner.
It's not just Europe. Long -standing friends Australia, Taiwan and Canada (or how Trump our neighbors, the 51st state of America) look around and become nervous. Even Japan – yes, this former empire that we politely asked to never conquer the Pacific again – has started since the first Trump government Weapons such as there is an apocalypse fire sale.
All of this is a fairly strong departure from the nuclear umbrella and the liberal order after the war, which enabled the American AB from some remarkable exceptions in 1945 a blissful, liquidated peace with garages with two cars, well-kept lawn and shopping centers.
But hey, who needs stability if you can have excitement? After all, maintaining these alliances has bought. On the one hand, you have to continue to suck on people who are not as strong as they and probably not bring as much money as possible.
For example, we take President Reagan's speech on the 40th anniversary of the D-Day. I remember that I heard and thought as a boy: “Why all the conversations about the allies?” I mean, Reagan raves about the “impossible bravery of the poles”, “the forces of free France” and the “unsurpassed courage of the Canadians”. And he apparently throws other references to British troops who hear the bagpipes and Lord Lovat from Scotland.
Why? At that time we knew that the world worked better than our friends believed that we were together in this existential struggle. Trump seems to do everything to send the opposite message: You are alone!
But the biggest reason why leaving our allies is stupid can be summarized in one word: China. You remember China, right? The country that sends us fentanyl and tictok propaganda and outsmart us four to one? Well, you advise something – if the free world stays together, we will pretty much fit you together in the population, country and strength. But only if we glue together.
Trump, the so -called largest dealmaker, does the worst business in American history out here by lending ourselves, avoiding allies, alienated, American soft power by reducing foreign help and giving up power Really Want to fool us. Nothing says “America first” as if you were to make your friends dead. And here is: it is easy to remove our power, but it would be a decades of struggle to regain influence as soon as it is gone.
How does a superpower lose your moral authority, her allies and your standing in the world? Slowly … and then everything at once.
Matt K. Lewis is the author of “dirty rich politicians” and “too stupid to fail”.