While it may seem that Trump can never stop making the wrong choices, it would appear he’s ready to top himself. He has made himself the center of attention (like always) in the ongoing peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. While the president is known for his very brash tactics in negotiating, his decision to take discussions about peace between Ukraine and Russia out of the hands of the Ukrainian people is going to lead to the deterioration of an alliance that has lasted for over 75 years.
Trump and the rest of his cronies have made their stance on our European allies incredibly clear, and unfortunately for him, the feeling is mutual. In just a week’s time, Trump has taken the U.S. from the EU’s greatest asset to arguably its strongest enemy as the rift between freedom-loving Europe and bleak-looking America grows larger.
The dominoes began to fall on the campaign trail, where Trump promised to have the war ended on day one of his term. Following this blatant lie, the administration went silent on the issue until it exploded on Feb. 12 when Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth made a slew of concerning comments about the future of Ukraine.
These included an outright denial of NATO membership, as well as saying that Ukraine returning to its pre-2014 borders was “unrealistic.” This sent a shockwave through all representatives at the meeting as it became clear that the U.S. of the past was no longer here to play ball.
But just like every other decision he has made since his inauguration, that isn’t where it ended. On Feb. 14, Vice President JD Vance was in attendance at the Munich Security Conference where he spent most of it not talking about global security, and instead lambasting the nations in attendance.
Vance said, “In Britain, and across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat,” signaling many of the same talking points that Trump used in his campaign in regards to freedom of speech. At the same time, Trump announced that U.S. advisors would meet with Russia in a meeting held in Saudi Arabia.
In the most recent development, tensions have risen even further after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Trump was “living in a disinformation bubble.” Trump fired back by calling Zelensky a “dictator” and parroting even more Russian talking points. He even took it to such an egregious level to claim that it was Ukraine who started this war. Whatever Putin said to Trump in their 90-minute phone call on Feb. 12 was enough to get Trump and the U.S. exactly where Russia wants them.
Vance’s comments sent the EU into a frenzy, but Trump’s decision to leave them out in the cold and his hostilities towards Zelensky have shown that their priorities just aren’t in line anymore. American foreign policy seems to be one thing many largely ignore because it is just that, foreign policy.
However, the destruction of our relationship with NATO allies represents something much bigger than that. It’s proof that Donald Trump is steering America away from its democracy-loving allies and into the hands of autocrats. In his delusions, Trump believes he can solve all the world’s problems, but in doing so he is pushing away those who help us the most.
What should be the most worrisome of this potential future without our alliance with the rest of the European countries is that it gives our enemies the opportunity to swoop in and undermine our influence. China, which is arguably our biggest trade rival, has already signaled that it’s ready to do business with the EU and completely leave out the U.S. If those countries who typically rely on U.S. production turn to a country like China, it leaves our industries in the dust.
Amid all of this, European leaders have been scrambling to figure out what a world without U.S. support looks like. French President Emmanuel Macron called for a consultation with other leaders to stand firm with Ukraine as well as develop long-term plans if U.S. intervention continues to disappear.
Even though Trump sees all of our relations with foreign countries as dollar signs, he is making a severe miscalculation by letting this alliance slip. The transatlantic partnership with NATO is evaporating before our eyes, and while it may not have immediate consequences at home and abroad, it will be catastrophic.
