I wonder why americans trashed their own hegemony in record time. Was it just to own the libs or are they lashing out because the elites know something we dont
US non-interventionism was the norm for the longest time. Hence US entering WWII late - the US had no interest in helping their European cousins for a long time.
Perhaps this is just the US going back to its natural state.
> US non-interventionism was the norm for the longest time.
US practised non-interventionism when wasn't the dominant world power. It's existed for 229 years, only in the 75 years after 2 world wars dethroned Britain did it become dominant. Since then its pretty much continuously projected it's power using miliary means across the world.
Look around, and you'll notice most countries are non-interventionist. That includes countries that were once attempted to colonise the world - like Britain, France and Spain. I guess once it was clear they could not take on the USA single handedly, they stopped spending on their military. Looked at as an asset that generates a return, what use is it if you have to ask the USA for permission to use it?
The corollary is if the USA loses it's "dominant military power status" military spending will probably drop back to the levels of other countries. It's held the position for 75 years, but if current trends continue it won't make 80 years.
I guess the obvious candidate for taking on the role of "dominate power" is China. Given they way they've been building up their military, it's almost like they are preparing for it. Their major competitor for the position will be India.
I really don't think it's that complicated. this is just Trump's personal philosophy. he's been saying it for decades. he doesn't think the US should be so involved around the world, and he doesn't think the world should be so involved in the US
as a European, I’m cautious optimistic about this, especially given headlines like these. Europe should be able to stand on its own
Surely he understands the interplay between the usd being the world reserve currency and the importance of allies and military bases set across the world and how this aids US prosperity
serious question... How does that not help? The USD is a stable currency because we have f35's and the most powerful military in the world. How does Germany spending over the next 10 years, what we spend a year change that? Our ally is stronger because trump has been pressuring europe to invest more in military, why does that not increase our military capability now that our allies are a bit stronger?
Previously we were spending on US weapons. E.g. F-35 or Patriots. We might phase that out.
Your allies might not help you with the next Afghanistan.
Germanies foreign reserves are nearly all treasuries. We might (naturally) diversify away. By taking on a large amount of debt we will simultaneously create an alternative safe asset (bunds).
it would be impossible for someone in his position not to know that. he would have to be shockingly, droolingly stupid to not know that, and I know it's fashionable to say that Trump's stupid, but he quite obviously isn't. he's not Einstein or Attenborough, but you don't get where he is by chance.
what he is is opinionated and narcissistic with a highly unusual, but predictable - and successful - way of operating that people still somehow fail to recognise. if you think he's stupid, he's winning because you're not seeing his real intentions.
I will also point out that he's a political obsessive, including when it comes to foreign policy, and it would be once again quite obviously impossible for someone in his position to not know how US foreign policy works. he quite clearly just doesn't care about losing the benefits of world influence and prefers the long term idea of a different system, one where the US is more self-reliant and his businesses have less competition from foreigners.
obviously most economists will tell you that that is stupid, and I'd mostly agree, but it's a far far softer kind of stupid than not understanding the incredibly basic central tenet of US foreign policy for the last 80 years.
Because those people around the world are smarter than him and look down on him. He's plenty interested in being involved with places that flatter and pay him money.
It’s deeper than Trumpism and there is significant support for divesting from the US empire on the left too. If Sanders had gotten in we would have gone about it very differently but still may have done some of the same things. If the Sanders/AOC wing of the party wants universal health care, that is going to come out of the defense budget. Taxing the rich won’t be enough.
The post-9/11 forever wars were really disasters. We spent trillions in Iraq and Afghanistan to end up with ISIS rising in Iraq and the Taliban back in charge in Afghanistan. It’s really soured the US on interventionism.
Ukraine is viewed differently by many but that’s kind of an exception, and support for actually committing significant US troops there would be soft.
Did they though? Are Trump's speeches followed by any action? US has numerous bases across the world, notably surrounding Russia and China. Any sign they're going to close them? Besides, Europe doesn't have much geopolitical significance nowadays. I'm more curious about US stance on China.
Losing the EU as an ally against China is disastrous for US chinese containment policy. Trump wont be able to bribe Putin either if China starts a war.
Yeah the idea that russia would somehow join US if China would start war is laughable, they are US sworn enemy since stalin era since all US stands/stood for is a direct threat to their oligarchy. There were 0 days when this wasn't true since WWII ended. Even assumption they would just stand by during any conflict won't fly, they would at least try to take Alaska or similar action.
They are much more friendly with China on all levels compared to US and its deepening since his first term.
But now US can be sure as hell Europe won't give a flying fuck if such conflict would happen. We were fractured and weak but as all psychologists know a common enemy can solidify a society like nothing else. A recent stab in the back can be interpreted that way. And we're half a billion and rich market which once dominated all known world.
It just shows that in order to be a good respected politician adding value to one's own country, one need to be way more than some nepo kid with daddy issues, reality show host, hyper arrogant narcissistic investor who made hundreds of millions of his father into billions (while crashing handful of casinos).
What is "record time"? Trump does not have anything to do with diminished USA hegemony. The problem started when USA let China to join WTO, which result in offshoring production to China and rapid China growth (also military, which was happening below radar of western observers).
At the same time USA stopped investing in its military (as compared to Cold War times) and, what is equally important, its European allies did the same (with exception of Greece and to some extent France). As a result whole Euro-Atlantic alliance become weaker and heavily dependent on China.
This was a long, slow process, stared in the '2000.
Trump tries to revert this trend, but makes unnecessary mistakes, most notably, he is hurting USA soft power and is conflicting USA with its European allies, which gives an impression that "something" happened suddenly now.
US non-interventionism was the norm for the longest time. Hence US entering WWII late - the US had no interest in helping their European cousins for a long time.
Perhaps this is just the US going back to its natural state.