Trump's attempt to forge a new international order

[DonViejo]

Axios 30 mins ago

"The decision to pull out of the Iran deal is the latest example of the administration’s aggressive unilateralism," Financial Times chief foreign affairs commentator Gideon Rachman writes from London (subscription).

The big picture: "America’s allies may harrumph that it is unacceptable for the US to walk away from the Iran deal or the Paris climate accord, but there is not much they can do about it. After all, European allies depend not only on the dollar, but also ... on American military protection."

The state of play: "The Trump administration’s stance on Iran is rejected by all the other signatories to the Iran deal (France, Germany, the UK, China, Russia, the EU) — although it does have the support of Israel and Saudi Arabia. Similarly, Mr. Trump’s approach to trade and climate change has not attracted any significant allied support."

What's changing: "In normal times, the US relies on the 'rules-based international order' — a network of laws and institutions that it and its allies have largely shaped over many decades. ... But for a rules-based order to work, the US has to be able to demonstrate that it is willing, on occasion, to be constrained by the rules."

Why it matters: "[T]he Trump administration is seeking to move to a power-based order — in which the US lays down the law and others are compelled to follow. That may work for a while, but it is also an invitation to rivals to test America’s will through unilateral actions in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. And that is a recipe for a much more dangerous world."

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https://www.axios.com/donald-trump-foreign-policy-rules-based-international-order-d2ab1529-638c-47e4-ba2d-ec5a412c9ee3.html

[RKP5637]

1. The last paragraph certainly sums up the future if this continues. Mr. tRump is brewing a toxic

environment and it will not go well. Other nations are eventually going to get pissed off playing polite and giving what respect they do to the US. And IMO this will eventually include our allies, who are already frustrated with Mr. tRump.

[AJT]

2. China would like to take over as the supplier of the worlds currency,

how difficult would that be?

[sinkingfeeling]

3. Apparently our new allies are North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Israel. Bolton

says we'll sanction the UK, Germany, France, or anybody else who disagrees with the flaming a**hole.