I guess this is so in many more places, we look at the world and wonder who has power. Most Europeans will see two big players: China and the US.
China (unlike Russia) was never a true enemy, but neither ever a true ally. It has been going back and forth between a dependable business partner and a hostile state, stealing technological secrets, overflowing our market with unsafe low-cost goods.
The US behaved like a dependable friend for a long time. They did things we (‘the rest of the west’) didn’t like, but they also helped us out all the time. Obvious to anyone here, this is no longer the case. We cannot predict whether their next policy will help or hurt us, the only thing we can say for sure it will be whatever works best for them. That’s not the behaviour of an ally.
I sincerely wonder what the future holds. China doesn’t have to be an enemy of the west and vice versa. But i guess we (or actually, each world leader) all have to choose how we position ourselves on the global stage.
I agree with you except for "the only thing we can say for sure it will be whatever works best for them. "
Too often lately US policy hurts US interests as well (giving Argentina billions of dollars to support their beef industry, for example).
Yeah it’s no longer a question of what is in America’s interests, it’s now what is in the interests of a small number of billionaires who control the US govt. If it gives power or money to the Fanta Felon and his henchmen that’s the choice they’ll make.
Your Argentina example is exactly that - he doesnt mind hurting Americans if it helps his cronies
I guess this is so in many more places, we look at the world and wonder who has power. Most Europeans will see two big players: China and the US.
China (unlike Russia) was never a true enemy, but neither ever a true ally. It has been going back and forth between a dependable business partner and a hostile state, stealing technological secrets, overflowing our market with unsafe low-cost goods.
The US behaved like a dependable friend for a long time. They did things we (‘the rest of the west’) didn’t like, but they also helped us out all the time. Obvious to anyone here, this is no longer the case. We cannot predict whether their next policy will help or hurt us, the only thing we can say for sure it will be whatever works best for them. That’s not the behaviour of an ally.
I sincerely wonder what the future holds. China doesn’t have to be an enemy of the west and vice versa. But i guess we (or actually, each world leader) all have to choose how we position ourselves on the global stage.
I agree with you except for "the only thing we can say for sure it will be whatever works best for them. " Too often lately US policy hurts US interests as well (giving Argentina billions of dollars to support their beef industry, for example).
Yeah it’s no longer a question of what is in America’s interests, it’s now what is in the interests of a small number of billionaires who control the US govt. If it gives power or money to the Fanta Felon and his henchmen that’s the choice they’ll make.
Your Argentina example is exactly that - he doesnt mind hurting Americans if it helps his cronies
Yeah i guess i should have written what seems best for Trump & co.
China has only its own interests in mind. They don’t care about anyone else.
Not that America is very different.
As long as those interests do not include disrupting global supply chains and making me personally poorer, I’m fine with that.