Remarks by Donald Trump normally reverberate in an echo chamber of his own creation, a sort of vacuum that often strips them of any consequence globally. It is white noise, one might think – rhetoric designed to project strength and the rejection of the status-quo, rather than an expression of any actual policy. It is just Trump being Trump.
**But when the former president suggested on Saturday that he would let Russia do “whatever the hell they want” to any NATO member that doesn’t meet spending guidelines, the impact was acute.**
He recalled what he said was a conversation with a “large” NATO ally – it was unclear who he was referring to or when the conversation took place – which, according to his telling, had declined to spend the 2% recommended equivalent of their GDP on defense, but nevertheless wanted assurances from the US that they would be protected if Russia attacked. Trump said he would not give such an assurance, as the ally was “delinquent,” and Russian President Vladimir Putin should feel free to have his way.
Trump’s opinion of NATO has been known for years – he thinks it is the epitome of everything he despises about of America’s allies, taking advantage of US strength without giving anything in return: a store loyalty club in which you get points without proportionate spending.
Putin is the pupeteer with one hand up Luka’s hole, the other up Trump’s.
The rest of the world knows it but half of the US can’t see it.
It’s purpose which suits the US profoundly: The White House invoked Article 5 after 9/11. And since NATO’s creation, US might has been often packaged globally as the expression of a dozens-strong consensus. NATO helps bolster the US’s ebbing position as the sole hyperpower. **Strip away this vast alliance, and its diplomatic and economic might, and the US looks quite lonely on the world stage.**
**In short, the US will almost certainly always spend much more than anyone else on its military, regardless of its allies. NATO gives it a global bedrock of legitimacy, support for the dollar, and the post-Soviet hegemony it thrives upon.**
If the remarks are bad, wait to see when he wins the election.
He’s doing europe a favour by waking them up a little bit.
Poland is leading the way in how to respond to Putler.
If you don’t like trump
Be thankful he made these comments .
All the democrats have to do , is focus . Hammer him non stop on this one issue, for the rest of the election .
Dems need to shut up about jan 6 , fake electors and all that legal bull shit .
Many of us non democrats , believe all these court cases to be nothing but a politically motivated witch hunt .
Which gets sympathy for trump and will get him more votes .
If you just hammer him on nothing but NATO and Russia , this one issue over and over and over .
He will lose in a landslide .
I am a lifelong ( non maga) Republican ,that grew up in Cold War times, and there are tens of millions of us. We will stay home and not vote in the election at all . Or vote for Joe Machin.
Myself and my friends and my peers , cringe at the thought of what trump is saying here. It’s sickening to us .
Don’t let us forget he said these things . Remind us everyday, and the election is yours .
Look how fast he turned on the Kurds. Goodbye economy if Putins favorite draft dodging Evangelical halfwit hero decides to turn on its allies. The world doesn’t need to be blackmailed into a protection racket from Murica it can change economic and military ties real fast. Republicans would love a third world dystopia.
Somehow we can thank Trump for kicking us into action at least. Let’s just hope he doesn’t get elected though
While i hate the orange clown as much as y’all I am actually glad he says these things. Europe must wake up and build up a force that will intimidate Putler with or without the USA. Our time is running out. If he wins in Ukraine, the Baltic states are next.
Good. Pay your 2%.
As much as I dislike Trump; Good. Europeans need to start spending more on their own defense and stop relying so heavily on the US. The entire world would be safer because of it.
As an American who follows our politics very closely, Europe needs to understand it can no longer count on the US. Even if Trump loses, shenanigans like what is going on in Congress over funding Ukraine will continue and get worse. It is imperative that Europe starts building its arsenal now. The post US dominance era is a certainty. Europe will need to arm and defend itself and importantly Ukraine as well.
Even if Biden won the election it’s conceivable that Congress could block him from honoring our commitments to NATO because the constitution says only Congress may declare war.
The US political system is so broken right now that it’s hard to realistically see a fix within the next decade or two. I implore every European who is reading this to petition your government to start arms manufacturing not just for Ukraine’s future but your own.
Do not count on us saving you – even if Donald Trump died tomorrow. The populist / fascist movement in this country has hit a tipping point. You cannot count on us any longer and must plan appropriately. You have been warned.
Your safety is transactional. Remember to pay your protection money or don the con will hang you out to dry if the worst should happen.
Two words. Strategic autonomy.
Europe needs it
Trump in power a year from now or not the USians can’t be considered reliable anymore. Their politics doesn’t allow it.
I highly suggest you research the history of the region and Russia’s intentions. How old are thy dark lord?
As an American, it just made me feel sick to my stomach.
I didn’t think there was anything else he could say to make me respect him less than I already did.
18 comments
London CNN —
Remarks by Donald Trump normally reverberate in an echo chamber of his own creation, a sort of vacuum that often strips them of any consequence globally. It is white noise, one might think – rhetoric designed to project strength and the rejection of the status-quo, rather than an expression of any actual policy. It is just Trump being Trump.
**But when the former president suggested on Saturday that he would let Russia do “whatever the hell they want” to any NATO member that doesn’t meet spending guidelines, the impact was acute.**
He recalled what he said was a conversation with a “large” NATO ally – it was unclear who he was referring to or when the conversation took place – which, according to his telling, had declined to spend the 2% recommended equivalent of their GDP on defense, but nevertheless wanted assurances from the US that they would be protected if Russia attacked. Trump said he would not give such an assurance, as the ally was “delinquent,” and Russian President Vladimir Putin should feel free to have his way.
Trump’s opinion of NATO has been known for years – he thinks it is the epitome of everything he despises about of America’s allies, taking advantage of US strength without giving anything in return: a store loyalty club in which you get points without proportionate spending.
Putin is the pupeteer with one hand up Luka’s hole, the other up Trump’s.
The rest of the world knows it but half of the US can’t see it.
It’s purpose which suits the US profoundly: The White House invoked Article 5 after 9/11. And since NATO’s creation, US might has been often packaged globally as the expression of a dozens-strong consensus. NATO helps bolster the US’s ebbing position as the sole hyperpower. **Strip away this vast alliance, and its diplomatic and economic might, and the US looks quite lonely on the world stage.**
**In short, the US will almost certainly always spend much more than anyone else on its military, regardless of its allies. NATO gives it a global bedrock of legitimacy, support for the dollar, and the post-Soviet hegemony it thrives upon.**
If the remarks are bad, wait to see when he wins the election.
He’s doing europe a favour by waking them up a little bit.
Poland is leading the way in how to respond to Putler.
If you don’t like trump
Be thankful he made these comments .
All the democrats have to do , is focus . Hammer him non stop on this one issue, for the rest of the election .
Dems need to shut up about jan 6 , fake electors and all that legal bull shit .
Many of us non democrats , believe all these court cases to be nothing but a politically motivated witch hunt .
Which gets sympathy for trump and will get him more votes .
If you just hammer him on nothing but NATO and Russia , this one issue over and over and over .
He will lose in a landslide .
I am a lifelong ( non maga) Republican ,that grew up in Cold War times, and there are tens of millions of us. We will stay home and not vote in the election at all . Or vote for Joe Machin.
Myself and my friends and my peers , cringe at the thought of what trump is saying here. It’s sickening to us .
Don’t let us forget he said these things . Remind us everyday, and the election is yours .
Look how fast he turned on the Kurds. Goodbye economy if Putins favorite draft dodging Evangelical halfwit hero decides to turn on its allies. The world doesn’t need to be blackmailed into a protection racket from Murica it can change economic and military ties real fast. Republicans would love a third world dystopia.
Somehow we can thank Trump for kicking us into action at least. Let’s just hope he doesn’t get elected though
While i hate the orange clown as much as y’all I am actually glad he says these things. Europe must wake up and build up a force that will intimidate Putler with or without the USA. Our time is running out. If he wins in Ukraine, the Baltic states are next.
Good. Pay your 2%.
As much as I dislike Trump; Good. Europeans need to start spending more on their own defense and stop relying so heavily on the US. The entire world would be safer because of it.
As an American who follows our politics very closely, Europe needs to understand it can no longer count on the US. Even if Trump loses, shenanigans like what is going on in Congress over funding Ukraine will continue and get worse. It is imperative that Europe starts building its arsenal now. The post US dominance era is a certainty. Europe will need to arm and defend itself and importantly Ukraine as well.
Even if Biden won the election it’s conceivable that Congress could block him from honoring our commitments to NATO because the constitution says only Congress may declare war.
The US political system is so broken right now that it’s hard to realistically see a fix within the next decade or two. I implore every European who is reading this to petition your government to start arms manufacturing not just for Ukraine’s future but your own.
Do not count on us saving you – even if Donald Trump died tomorrow. The populist / fascist movement in this country has hit a tipping point. You cannot count on us any longer and must plan appropriately. You have been warned.
Your safety is transactional. Remember to pay your protection money or don the con will hang you out to dry if the worst should happen.
Two words. Strategic autonomy.
Europe needs it
Trump in power a year from now or not the USians can’t be considered reliable anymore. Their politics doesn’t allow it.
I highly suggest you research the history of the region and Russia’s intentions. How old are thy dark lord?
As an American, it just made me feel sick to my stomach.
I didn’t think there was anything else he could say to make me respect him less than I already did.
But he always finds a way to