The Europeans should not take it personally. #Trump uses the same style on anyone he perceives as #weak. In #Ukraine, his irritation has often fallen less on #Russia — the aggressor — than on Ukraine, for refusing to accept subordinate status. In dealing with countries like #Brazil or #SouthAfrica, he is quick to lash out over policies he dislikes. But with #China, he often sounds oddly deferential — because Beijing possesses tools that could impose real costs on the #UnitedStates.
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“You can say yes & we will be very appreciative. Or you can say no and we will remember.” That was #Trump speaking at #Davos, laying out #Europe’s choices on #Greenland. When Zakaria asked a senior European leader whether there was relief that Trump had stepped back from the threat of #military action, he said yes. “But we’ve now seen a pattern in his dealings with us,”the leader said. “He treats us with contempt. And even if this crisis gets resolved, *we* will remember.”[took them long enough]
@Nonilex Chances of Trump remembering *anything* decrease by the day, of course. But yeah - there is nothing on paper about this so-called deal, and even if there were, Trump cannot be trusted to honor agreements. He changes his mind every hour. So the best approach to the US right now is caution. They can no longer be relied upon to be an ally in a crisis.
#Trump’s approach to “leadership” is primarily #transactional. He begins by asking, “Who has more leverage?” If the answer is “me,” he pushes as hard & as publicly as he can, not simply to win but to dominate — extracting the maximum price. For him, #diplomacy is the art of the squeeze. [ #MafiaState]
#US #imperialism #geopolitics #economy #law #InternationalLaw #authoritarianism #autocracy #dictatorship #tyranny #MadKing #WEF
#Trump enjoys using America’s vast #strength — built over generations — almost for sport. He placed #tariffs on #Switzerland, & then raised them sky high because the Swiss president, he said, “rubbed [him] the wrong way.” He relished recounting how quickly the Swiss came to him seeking relief. This was less strategy than a #power play.
#US #MafiaState #imperialism #geopolitics #economy #law #InternationalLaw #authoritarianism #autocracy #dictatorship #tyranny #MadKing #WEF
Last year, #NATO Secretary General #MarkRutte appeared to jokingly liken #Trump to a “daddy” intervening in a schoolyard brawl, & Trump has repeated that line with evident pleasure, including at #Davos. He seems to enjoy even insincere flattery because it shows that he is so powerful, people have to fake their admiration for him.
#US #MafiaState #imperialism #geopolitics #economy #law #InternationalLaw #authoritarianism #autocracy #dictatorship #tyranny #MadKing #WEF
The Europeans should not take it personally. #Trump uses the same style on anyone he perceives as #weak. In #Ukraine, his irritation has often fallen less on #Russia — the aggressor — than on Ukraine, for refusing to accept subordinate status. In dealing with countries like #Brazil or #SouthAfrica, he is quick to lash out over policies he dislikes. But with #China, he often sounds oddly deferential — because Beijing possesses tools that could impose real costs on the #UnitedStates.
@Nonilex Oh, he usually sides with the bullies. He doesn't like losers, right? What he does like are protection rackets. 🚮🚮🚮
@Nonilex all fine words, but if it's all the same, we'll take it personally.
And he adores the #Gulf monarchies because they are swimming in cash, a form of #strength he respects.
This is the opposite of how American leadership has worked in the modern era.
The #US has been the world’s dominant #power for close to a century. But its leaders understood that primacy is not only about #coercion; it is also about #legitimacy, reassurance & voluntary cooperation.
#US #Trump #MafiaState #geopolitics #law #InternationalLaw #authoritarianism #autocracy #tyranny #MadKing
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