America's New Isolationism under Trump

[MineralMan]

Deep cuts proposed in the State Department budget are just the latest indicators that the Trump administration is planning to implement isolationism as the chief principle of its international relations policy. This week's visit by Angela Merkel, the Prime Minister of Germany, traditionally one of our strongest NATO allies, was marked by her extremely rude treatment by President Trump in public appearances. Such treatment is unheard of in past administrations.

There are many other signs, as well, that the USA, under a Trump Administration, is intent on minimizing the importance of our continuing relationship with allies. Accusations by the Trump administration and its official and unofficial spokespersons that the top British intelligence agency had spied on Trump and the refusal of the Secretary of State to dine with the leaders of South Korea are additional examples of this change in tactics when dealing with allies.

While it might be tempting to tie all of this to Trump's neglected education in proper etiquette, the reality is that his administration is systematically, and apparently intentionally, working to damage long-term relationships with nations that have traditionally been friends. His demands that NATO nations "pay up" are based on a clearly intentional misunderstanding of the support requirements in that treaty, and are endangering our NATO alliances.

What is triggering this sudden change in our relationships? It may well be Trump's unusual attachment to Vladimir Putin and the Russian government. Whatever the reason for that particular alliance, whether it is based on financial gain or fear of blackmail, it is harming international relationships that are crucial, both in terms of trade and security. All of this needs to be examined closely, before it goes beyond the point of no return.

[Blue_Adept]

1. Here's hoping for a Russian Spring

https://www.amazon.com/Russian-Spring-Norman-Spinrad-ebook/dp/B00GU2VYVG

In the near future, the debt-laden U.S. owns a technology that renders it "the world's best-defended Third World country." The only real outer-space planning is in Common Europe, so young American "space cadet" Jerry Reed goes to work in Paris. He falls in love with and marries Soviet career bureaucrat Sonya Gagarin and the story jumps ahead 20 years, blending world events with a focus on their family. Sonya's star has risen with the Euro-Russians' while Jerry has been stymied by pervasive anti-Americanism. Daughter Franja has her father's space fever and enrolls in a Russian space school; son Bob, fiercely curious about an earlier, admired America before it was run by xenophobic "Gringos," enters Berkeley. Ten years later the U.S. is a pariah, Euro-Russia the pet of the civilized world and the Reeds scattered--politics forced Jerry and Sonya's divorce, Franja speaks only to her mother and Bob is trapped in "Festung Amerika." A series of odd, occasionally tragic events brings the family (and the world) together.

[MineralMan]

2. Interesting, but I'm not currently reading speculative fiction

like that. It's not entertaining, since we are seeing it happen in real time, just now.

[beachbum bob]

3. following hertigage foundation game plan, really thats all they are doing

no big secret

[MineralMan]

4. Well, the Heritage Foundation certainly has far too much

influence on US politics, I agree.

[Mellomugwump]

5. It's like the abusive spouse....

Who first isolates their victim from their family and friends.