Ben Morgan: President Trump, the great dealmaker?
Last week I said that the “peace deal are made in the real world,” and that regardless of President Trump’s desire for a quick settlement this negotiation involves factors he cannot control. A point that was hammered home in a catastrophic Oval Office press conference on Friday. Zelenskyy and Trump met to sign a new economic deal for the extraction of minerals from Ukraine.
A deal Trump’s ‘transactional’ style of diplomacy requires as a pre-requisite for US support. Essentially, Trump’s America needs an economic relationship with Ukraine, to justify providing support.
The incident demonstrates the weakness of the Trump administration, and that the school bully is not often the best statesman. It was sad to watch Trump and his team patronise and belittle President Zelensky, in a childish display that would have made great American leaders of the past like General George Marshall sick.
Marshall, whose sensible, compassionate and cosmopolitan advice to rebuild Germany, Japan and Italy after the war created strong, new international institutions. A rules-based order that helped promote liberal democracy throughout the world. Contributing to the current hegemonic position of the USA.
In fact, the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990, probably has more to do with protecting and supporting other nations than with US military power. A fact that appears lost on the current administration.
Zelenskyy, did not acquiesce to this behaviour standing his ground and debating with Trump and the Vice President, J.D Vance. The meeting finished in an undignified shouting match. Zelenskyy left the Whitehouse without signing the deal. A situation that leaves a wide-range of unanswered questions.
What we know about peace negotiations, the Oval Office meeting’s context
Friday’s meeting needs to be analysed within a wider context, the wider peace negotiations. A process that is not going well. Trump and his team announced an initial plan for a negotiated peace about two weeks ago. The proposed conditions can be summarised as follows.
- A ceasefire is called, roughly based on the current frontline.
- Russia retains the areas it has taken since 2014.
- Ukraine cannot join NATO but there is some sort of security guarantee to protect Ukrainian sovereignty. This includes arming Ukraine and creating a demilitarised zone along the new border policed by a non-NATO peace-keeping force.
- Trump and Putin will meet face-to-face to finalise the deal.
A high-level meeting in Saudi Arabia, between US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, was followed by more detailed discussion between officials in Turkey on 27 February. Russia is clearly stating its maximalist position, as follows:
- A ceasefire.
- That all land taken, and land claimed by Russia, is handed over to Russia.
- Ukraine is essentially dis-armed, and that there is no third-party security force to guarantee the deal.
Putin has publicly established his position, notably while speaking to the Federal Security Service (FSB) board on 27 February. A position that cannot be reconciled with European and Ukrainian expectations. Leading to considerable tension between Trump and Zelensky that became public after a series of ugly tweets and statements made by the US president.
My assessment is that the mineral deal plays is an essential element because it allows Trump to justify the use of American military resource, either to himself or to his voters. The idea of supporting Ukraine for philosophical reasons like honouring the security guarantees of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, to protect a liberal democracy from unjustified attack or to support stability in Europe appear unimportant.
Was Zelensky deliberately ambushed?
The truth is hard to discern and commentators are split. For instance, Anders Puck Nielsen, ( https://www.youtube.com/@anderspuck ) a Danish naval intelligence officer, provides some of the most insightful public analysis of the war and believes Zelensky was ambushed. However, he theorises that the aim was to humiliate and browbeat Zelensky to make him easier to push into making concessions. Essentially, that pushing Putin around is too hard, so the administration used the Oval Office press conference as an opportunity to weaken Zelensky. A plan that backfired when Zelensky refused to play that game.
Retired NATO Supreme Commander, General Philip Breedlove also provided some interesting analysis. Speaking on Times Radio, Breedlove took the position that although the meeting was a disaster, it was not intentional. Instead, a series of factors contributed to an exchange that neither party wanted.
Regardless of the opinions of commentators, the only people that really know the motivation behind the meeting are Trump and his inner circle.
Trump’s strategy now has some big problems
European leaders reacted quickly, most immediately pledging their support for Ukraine. Micheál Martin, Ireland’s Taoiseach or Prime Minister spoke eloquently about supporting Ukraine, reminding small nations everywhere that collective security is the only way to guarantee a fair international order.
This is a defining moment for the Trump administration because it has clearly stated that its main security objectives are:
- Securing America’s southern border.
- Competition with China.
Last Friday’s Oval Office exchange, followed by the reaction of Europe creates a difficult situation for Trump. Europe’s combined economy and military power is roughly ten times that of Russia, and between them European nations can probably support Ukraine to continue the war. Leaving the US in an awkward position if it continues to side with Moscow over is historic allies.
Further, a wider impact is that NATO nations will be less likely to trust, or support US initiatives to deter China. The European Union is evolving quickly increasing its military spend and if America’s inconsistent foreign continues Europe may become the partner of choice economically and militarily for liberal democracies. European nations may even start to look towards China to underpin and guarantee a new global order. And, either option weakens America’s competitive position against China, impacting on a stated goal of US foreign policy.
However, it is still early in the process and reasonable voices exist on both sides of the Atlantic. Although, Rubio publicly supports his president, he is urging reconciliation. Meanwhile, at the European Union discussion before this week’s leaders meeting in Kyiv, Finnish president, Alexander Stubb gave a master class in reconciling issues and resurrecting a united peace process. Stubb is a very experienced statesman, and supporter of the Trans-Atlantic alliance. Stubb argues that Europe needs to accept that US policy has changed, and develop a united plan that can be used as a basis for negotiations with the US.
Losing US support will certainly extend the war in Ukraine, but it is highly unlikely Ukraine will collapse. Three years of war have demonstrated that Russian misinformation about Zelensky being a dictator, and forcing the country to fight is wrong. Ukraine appears to be united against a common enemy, and as many previous wars like Vietnam and Afghanistan have proven it is almost impossible to defeat a motivated enemy. Additionally, Putin’s resources are not infinite and there is evidence that his military and economy could collapse before defeating Ukraine, especially if Europe maintains its support.
A risk of Trump’s strategy is that it may encourage nuclear proliferation
Currently, the US provides nuclear deterrence for NATO, a very important part of the strategic puzzle. Putin’s demonstrates that he is unconcerned about Russian lives, and it is likely that what deters him from using nuclear weapons is the sure and certain knowledge that if the US responds to a nuclear attack he will can be located, targeted and killed.
Early in the war, US statements about Putin’s movements in Russia often published. A subtle warning about US capabilities. Essentially, that US intelligence and targeting assets make a nuclear war suicidal for Putin, and his inner circle. Therefore, the nuclear option is currently ‘off the table’ for Russia. But, if America’s commitment waivers this situation may change, obviously a worst-case scenario but European powers are already considering this situation.
Immediately, after the Oval Office meeting, French president, Emmanuel Macron discussed development of an independent European nuclear deterrent. Telling Le Parisian newspaper “We have a shield, they don’t. And they can no longer depend on the American nuclear deterrent. We need a strategic dialogue with those who don’t have it, and that would make France stronger.”
Likewise, Ukraine was once a centre of Soviet nuclear technology and if US foreign policy continues weaken American guarantees of nuclear protection it is possible Ukraine will try to develop these weapons. And, further afield large powerful nations that could easily become nuclear powers will also be watching the collapse of American security guarantees, and may try to mitigate the risk by developing independent nuclear deterrents. Japan and Korea for instance probably have the capacity to quickly develop nuclear deterrents.
The next few weeks will be a test of Russia’s combat capability
The recent slow down in Russian operations is not just related to lost equipment and soldiers. Russia has successful shaped American presidential opinion, so it was a good to time for an operational pause to re-constitute units. However, the current strategic situation incentivises Russia to capture ground and demonstrate that Ukraine is weak and cannot stop Russia without US support.
Therefore, expect activity on the frontline over the next few weeks. My assessment is that if Russia has combat power available it will be thrown into the fight to gain strategic advantage. For example, re-capturing the Kursk salient, or capturing Kostyantynivka would certainly influence a pro-Russian faction in the Whitehouse.
Likewise, no activity probably indicates that Russia is unable to mount large operations.
Summary
Sixty-four years ago, in his inauguration speech President Kennedy, said “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” An expression of cosmopolitan American thought, motivated by a deep philosophical belief that America can and should contribute to the greater good of the wider international community.
Trump’s Whitehouse appears keen to abandon this history. Unfortunately, as well as failing Ukraine and de-stabilising the international rules-based order it will also reduce American influence around the world. A risky situation when America is committed to competition with China, a competition in which support from NATO partners would be welcomed.
Ben Morgan is a bored Gen Xer, a former Officer in NZDF and TDBs Military Blogger – his work is on substack
And here Trump was saying he would end the war in one day, meh
Trump’s behaviour is that of a dictator, a bully. It was on full display, no one can blame the media, he is a very bad actor and his histrionics( he is no politician) confirm his guilt of all previous court cases against him.
You cheered when Trump was almost assassinated. Now it’s like why is Trump so deranged?
The great dealmaker?
Well this event highlights why Trump went bankrupt 4 times.
And rose again from the ashes, four times!
Daddy bailed him out just like going to war, his daddy’s doctor created bone spurs. Donald “grab” em by the pussy” your idol had nothing to do with rising from the ashes, drop kick. Now back to primary school with you.
Gosh you are a funny fellow Sqeaky.
Better to funny and truthful than retarded and a liar like you Bob the resident idiot. Squeaky with a ” u” you illiterate moron.
Using other peoples money ,you know mum and dad investors as he has no money of his own he just syphons off money from share holders and buys a golf club with it in his name and when he goes tits up the share holders are left with nothing but he still plays golf .And unlike NZ bad and poor business people are protected in the USA and are allowed to fleece investors in the process .This may be the cause of us kiwis not investing in business instead of houses .
Your role model is a rapist and a convicted felon.
Exactly.
He also stiffed the Deutsch Bank of $400 million by refusing to pay the loan during the 97/98 financial crash quoting a section in the loan agreement allowing it due to unforeseen circumstances .
Exactly Geoff, poor little child Bob the knob not old enough to remember.
So he acted within the law.
Thanks for that Geoffrey.
Squeaky thanks for acknowledging my youth, which is apparently on your side.
You old chaps need to refresh, move on from the 1930’s.
Except he was the only one to use that opt out clause during the 97/98 crash also a financial crash is not an unforeseen circumstance. That refusal to pay the loan is the reason Deutsche Bank pulled out of the USA and no bank world wide will loan him money. In fact the only bank who will is the Ogliarch’s in Moscow via their Russian held Deutsche Bank acc’s the banks themselves wont give him a cent.
After Trumps repeated failures and failure to repay loans, no western bank would touch him. That’s when the Russians got a hold of him with their dirty money. Trump has no morals or any real desire to help anyone but himself (ie the American people). In fact both himself and Musk are outsiders within the American elite which drives their narcissistic egos crazy.
No you are wrong again Bob the knob. We simply acknowledge your ineptitude, clear lack of history and inability to provide any evidence to back up your ridiculous posts. You are juvenile at best.
That was his business method. Going bankrupt leaving everyone In the shit but him who walks away with all the money. He’s boasted about it. Doesn’t say much for his ethics, but then we knew that.
Trump is clearly living in the fantasy world .Since when ,were peace negotiations held with out the TWO parties being involved .Why would anyone expect Ukraine to accept a deal they have not been part of negotiating ?Would you buy a house without looking at it first .?The Ukraine president went to the US to talk peace and trade not to pimp his country to a mad man and come away with nothing in return .Nz needs to move away from the USA and maybe push for a neutral country status or move toward Europe .I would think AUKUS MAY WELL BE DEAD IN THE WATER or at least I would hope so .
Well that’s ridiculous gw.
why fuck head dont just make a stupid statement with no supporting reason .
I sure hope so that Aukus is dead in the water and yes we should focus on the UK and Europe and China/ South East Asia.
“Would you buy a house without looking at it first .?”
It’s more like Zelensky is a street person (that’s how he looked) and Trump was a social worker telling him what he would have to do to be housed and make rent. Zelensky chose the street.
You sound just like that ill informed half-wit “reporter” that asked the question about why he wasn’t wearing a suit.
“Trump the Claytons president”…the president you have when you don’t really have a president.
“Clayton’s” means “substitute”, “ersatz”, “fake”. It comes from a product marketed back in the late 1970s to people who wanted to cut down on social drinking and referred to a drink that sort of looked and smelled a bit like some kind of alcohol but actually wasn’t. It was marketed as “the drink you have when you are not having a drink”.
Z was the supplicant in need of a deal. He didn’t get it. That’s a first for Z. There was no deal for Trump, he wasn’t buying.
How can President Zelenski be a supplicant when he was responding to trumps outlandish demands with his own proposal?
Z was the supplicant in need of a deal. He didn’t get it. That’s a first for Z. There was no deal for Trump, he wasn’t buying.
Watching Trump Apologists try and justify the fascism they’ve supported is the best part of the next 4 years
agree 100%
How are you going to handle the love fest between Putin and Trump? The Russian media certainly love the Don. I guess you’re a MAGA boy now as well.
Observer you need to learn to see what you don’t want to. My comment is an observation of what happened, not a judgement of rights or wrongs. I haven’t given an opinion on that.
oh the right wing back flip
You know nothing of my politics. I know you support a US neocon proxy war. What does that make you?
‘Now people see what the Ukraine President is really like.’ Yes Nathan a man with principles he, and his people will defend.
Was the biblical Nathan also a false prophet?
People here seem quick to forget the riot Trump instigated on Capitol Hill.
Fortunately Mike Pence and many other Republicans havent.
This meeting was more of the same with Trump, narcissistic personality disorder.
Trump & Co are true to form it’s how the seppo’s roll…”Quid Pro Quo”
That shinning light on the hill is not freedom & democracy but is actually a B52 coming over the horizon to make sure that you play by the hegemony’s rules, it’s what happens when you put all your eggs in one basket & a wake up call to the rest of the world.
Major General Smedley D Butler…”War is a racket” Quote…I could have given Al Capone a few hints, he only operated in three districts….I operated on three continents!
Trump aka ‘the man they could not kill’ is a omni-shambles of a president wrapped around a ego far exceeding his ability.
Zelensky is an actor, a comedian and a very rich thief, long groomed for the role that has destroyed and sacrificed his country in a proxy war they could never win. The fact the majority of Ukrainian men do not want to fight and die in this war counts for nothing to him,, or for western ‘supporters’, who would want the whole thing stopped if they had to put their own lives or health on the line …..
Trumps tariff wars on everyone ,,, to target China,,, is a big kick in the guts and sucker punch to a very wobbly and fragile world economic order.
Trump catalyzing a economic crash is a better than even bet, imo.
I also rate Trumps chances of being assassinated as much higher than normal,,,, should that come to pass then the fascism brought to bear by new president Vance/Peter Thiel/Musk etc ,,, will be much less shambolic than King Dons ego driven chest thumping and WWF like showmanship, they have a plan/vision and a lot of high tech tools
Forget about dog eat dog ,,, we are in battle of the snakes times ,,,, ‘fascissssssssssssssssssssstttsssssssss’, ,,,, all over the show.
It wanting to fight! You should see the hordes of young Russians in Thailand. Surly, morose, fine specimens.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1A34kKkmiC/
OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY
On Feb 24th, the third anniversary of Russia’s illegal, full-scale war in Ukraine, in the wake of unprecedented geopolitical turbulence over past weeks, the Kiwi K.A.R.E leadership team from New Zealand, Australia, Poland & Ukraine sent an Open Letter to President Zelenskyy assuring him, and the people of Ukraine, of our continued humanitarian support.
The letter was received by His Excellency, Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko and forwarded to the President.
Following the ugly confrontation in the Oval Office yesterday, it is crucial to show unified support for a country fighting for its territorial integrity, democratic values, and survival against tyranny from an imperialistic aggressor.
#KiwiKARE #StandWithUkraine
Amen to that
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AUVgjDXwp/
OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY
On Feb 24th, the third anniversary of Russia’s illegal, full-scale war in Ukraine, in the wake of unprecedented geopolitical turbulence over past weeks, the Kiwi K.A.R.E leadership team from New Zealand, Australia, Poland & Ukraine sent an Open Letter to President Zelenskyy assuring him, and the people of Ukraine, of our continued humanitarian support.
The letter was received by His Excellency, Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko and forwarded to the President.
Following the ugly confrontation in the Oval Office yesterday, it is crucial to show unified support for a country fighting for its territorial integrity, democratic values, and survival against tyranny from an imperialistic aggressor.
How is this long con tracking so far?
Provoke Russia by telling them Ukraine can join Nato in contravention of Reagans agreement with Gorbachev.
Putin states his red line.
Run the Maidain coup to stop Yanakovich attempt at nuetral Ukraine.
Fund Azov Nazis with several US billion.
Criminalise the russian language in Ukraine causing an uprising.
War gets started
Sell $billions of expiry date US armaments at top dollar.
Get Ukraines mineral resources and future interest payments.
Massively increase weapons sales to the rest of Europe.
1 million dead.
MIC win.
With regard to relatve casualties in this conflict, an unreferneced comment at https://www.moonofalabama.org/2025/03/ukraine-open-thread-2025-042/comments/page/4/#comments
may give some indication –
A corpse exchange in the previous few days.
45 Russians
757 Ukrainians
Not sure if there was much of this guy to retrieve.
https://i.4cdn.org/pol/1740970488637920.mp4
Posted by: Melaleuca | Mar 3 2025 9:43 utc | 319
A war pig?
To true Joseph ,,,,Not to mention all the top dollar overpriced LPG the yanks have been selling to Europe after they blew up the Nord-stream pipeline — “Fuck the EU” indeed ,, and it was not Trump who said that phrase, although he no doubt shares the sentiment…..
**************************************
Geoff Lye quotes the right wing “old soldier” Tenby Powell who came to my notice along with another ex-soldier and uber Zionist Ron Marks when both of them became ‘humanitarians’ who felt compelled to help Ukraine……
Quite frankly these old soldiers storys, like a lot of ‘pro-Ukraine’ propaganda does not stack up ,,,, neither had given any indication of being humanitarians before involving themselves in a NATO proxy war …
I would be surprised if Powell is not a Zionist like Ron Marks is ,,,, which would make him a humanitarian fraud….
Much like peace-maker Trump is a fraud https://www.caitlinjohnst.one/p/trump-sends-netanyahu-weapons-while
The murderous larceny that Zionism represents is acceptable mainstream fascism in our modern world ,,, Banderisim/Azov etc is another branch ……
NATO is allied to both ………..
“.. Much like peace-maker Trump is a fraud ..”
Well, denying the ukroids more weapons is a good start.
It’s amazing to see the array of fucknuckles who continue to support Zelensky – Hipkins, Luxon, “Brigodear” Bradbury, Pat O’Dear, Geoff Lie, Ben Moran, Cantab/Ovod (PhD) etc.
Trump and Vance’s disastrous in camera performance with Zelinski shows they are as inept at international relations as they are at economics. Let’s face it, USA is being deliberately isolated until the US voters wise up and get rid of the Russian stooge and his corrupt bunch of oligarchs. Canada, EU and Brics are deliberately crashing the US markets resulting in inflation and shortages. US Tbills are being sold off short and retaliatory tariffs imposed, as well as alternative free trade agreements made excluding the USA. Militarily, NATO can operate independently from the USA, but if push came to shove, the US COS would compel Trump to act in the USA best interests – forcibly!!! It would be a bit hard to say no when some 6’5″ Special Forces operative is standing over you with a K-Bar in hand, and Trump is a known coward anyway.
For all the wannabe NZ MAGAnuts, dream on.
They are economically appalling. It’s not bad enough that Trump personally went bankrupt multiple times leaving creditors with millions of debts he is now going to bankrupt all of America…
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360602067/bullying-china-hits-back-trumps-new-tariffs-its-own
Trump has little to no intellect, that much is true.
Nah, realising Ukraine is in no position to make demands is the basic entry standard to even thinking about commenting on international relations.
Extra credit if you realise how post Cold War Nato has been the most destructive entity in IR in history.
Nah it’s not just about Ukraine and to make it simply about Ukraine is the basic entry standard to even thinking about commenting on international relations.
Extra credit if you realise how European allies will impact this war particularly now France has offered its nuclear armoury.
That 6’5″ oh so Special Forces is only 5’10” when he takes of his red leather Le’ Boys high heels,,,,,, The K-bar from the gay bar is really a nail file and sewing kit.
Trump showed , when bullets were sprayed his way,,, with one of them coming within a inch and a half of leaving him more brain damaged than Biden,,,,, Trump showed then that he was not a coward and had balls as big as his brain,,, which is not as impressive as it first sounds ,,,,as his head rattles when he shakes it,,,
He was also emboldened by the knowledge that Satan was protecting him,,,, Netanyahoo the high priest of child murder had promised him more virgins souls to be sacrifice than any time since his great country was dropping Napalm on most of Vietnam,,, All the children he’d ever seen in all his years partying with Epstein was a drop in the ocean in comparison ,,, and Clinton could vouch that that was a very big number itself.
That night after the hand of Satan saved trump from the assasins bullet he had a dream, and in that dream he was king of America first , and then King of Gaza.
In the morning there were two photo’s from the future, which Satan had left,,,
One has come true already ,,, the Gaza one is coming.
See them here https://pedrogman.substack.com/p/king-don
The Devil always keeps his word….. 😉
Jeff Sachs tells it like it is
https://youtu.be/_0L5zAlMqME
Neither Americans nor Kiwis can understand the psychology of ‘old Europe’ where blood feuds have been ongoing for a thousand years. Zelenski’s great grandparents and millions of his countrymen were starved out of their farms by Stalin in the Holodomor, then massacred by Hitler a decade later.
The hatred runs so deep they’re rather die than give up a square foot of their country to Putin. Meanwhile Trump thinks this is a real estate deal.
It’s a common mistake across the West, especially in the USA to think that ‘they’re just like us’, when they’re not.
For the wealth it generates for the heartland, American imperialism has always been a bi-partisan policy in US politics.
Imperialism as practiced by President Joe Biden, and previous Democratic and Republican presidents, has been replaced by naked imperialism as practiced by Donald Trump.
“…..It was sad to watch Trump and his team patronise and belittle President Zelensky, in a childish display that would have made great American leaders of the past like General George Marshall sick.” Ben Morgan
‘Great American leaders of the past’, would only have felt sick at Trump’s blatant display of bullying and avaricious grab for Ukraine’s mineral resources for its nakedness. Previous iterations of US leaders, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, included, tended to cloak the US imperialism’s resource grab and global economic and military domination, behind diplomatic language, spouting flowery phrases like ‘protecting democracy’.
Unlike his predecessors, Trump tells it like it is. ‘Give us what we want or else.’
Imperialism first and foremost is an economic system, Donald Trump, American businessman and billionaire, feels this instinctively in his bones, and reacts accordingly.
‘The business of America is business.’ US President Calvin Coolidge, 1925
Russia is an imperialist country – America is an imperialist country.
The Russian and American imperialists met in Saudi Arabia to discuss how best to divide Ukraine between them.
Russia gets the grain. The US gets the minerals.
No representatives of Ukraine or Europe were were present!
https://www.ukrainianworldcongress.org/russia-sets-world-record-due-to-stolen-ukrainian-grain/
Ukraine’s president Zelensky was asked to the White House to be told to accept the deal, or else,
The enemy of your enemy is not your friend.
Sometimes their interest may align with yours, sometimes their interest may align with your enemy’s.
Judging by the latest diplomatic and military moves, NATO is preparing to go it alone without USA, and given the known parity of forced, they have that capability against Russia. When taken alongside EU support, and the recent russian loses, it looks increasingly certain that all of Ukraine will be returned by force. It follows that entry by Ukraine into both NATO and EU is probable. Trump and his machinations to appease his boss are irrelevant.
As Arch US imperialist and war criminal the late Henry Kissinger said, imperialists have no permanent friends, or permanent enemies, only permanent interests.
The enemy of your enemy is not your friend.
Sometimes an imperialist country’s interest may align with yours, sometimes an imperialist country’s interest may align with your enemy’s.
The Russian imperialists want to expand into Europe, China wants to expand into the Pacific.,
America wants to maintain their domination of the Pacific region. The US don’t want Russia to ally with China in the Pacific. To win favour with Russia the US is prepared to sacrifice Ukraine and even Europe.
Russia attacked Ukraine in 2014 because the Ukrainian people wanted to join the EU.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolution_of_Dignity
Both Russia and the US are opposed to the EU.
Both Putin and Trump are aligned, in their opposition to the EU.
According to Donald Trump. The EU was formed to screw America.
Putin believes the EU was set up to ‘Screw’ Russia.
Sky News:
Donald Trump says EU was ‘formed to screw United States’ and threatens 25% tariffs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kq28VSlvUw
“America has no permanent friends or enemies, only interests”
― Henry Kissinger
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/633024-america-has-no-permanent-friends-or-enemies-only-interests
When the Soviet Union represented a powerful threat and global rival to the West, the USA and Europe needed each other.
Now that the war in Ukraine has revealed the successor to the Soviet Union, the Russian Federation to be a second rate power, representing no credible threat to US global hegemony. (At least not compared to China.) Things have changed.
Trump says, ‘Sayonara Europe, you’re on your own, gonna move my troops from Germany to Hungary.’
From Stuff.co.nz:
Trump considers pulling US troops out of Germany – and redeploying them to Hungary
Connor Stringer
March 08, 2025 •10:31am
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360607123/trump-considers-pulling-us-troops-out-germany-and-redeploying-them-hungary
…Trump is weighing up withdrawing some 35,000 active personnel out of Germany in a move that would further sour US-Europe relations.
…..Around 160,000 active-duty personnel are stationed outside of the United States, a vast quantity of whom are in Germany.
….Brian Hughes, a US national security spokesman, said: “While no specific announcement is imminent, the US military is always considering the redeployment of troops around the world to best address current threats to our interests.”…..
Which way will Winston Peters jump?
Will he keep sucking up to Donald Trump, in the vague hope of some tariff free trade crumbs for this country?
Will Winnie’s boot licking actually get anything for us from the US, other than deeper involvement in their war plans?