• shawn1122@sh.itjust.works
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    8 days ago

    I’m sorry but this is terrible diplomacy and diminishes America’s soft power on the world stage.

    Yes we’re moving into a multipolar world where soft power matters less but narrative building is always relevant and rubbing your allies the wrong way is just terrible strategy from any vantage point.

    Trump’s caused so much damage to Western credibity in so little time just by highlighting and widening fault lines at a records pace. This will create a vacuum that others will seek to occupy. This comment may not seem like much but it’s another little cut that will slowly bleed away America and the West’s standing in the world.

    • Instigate@aussie.zone
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      8 days ago

      Has he really damaged Western credibility, or is he only damaging the USA’s credibility? I’ve not seen reports that Trump’s behaviour is impacting how others feel about Canada, France or Germany. Trump’s behaviour really only reflects on the global opinions of the USA, as other countries and their populations are generally intelligent enough to understand that he is only elected by one country; only represents one country; and is only the product of the population of one country.

      • shawn1122@sh.itjust.works
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        8 days ago

        Many Western countries follow along and act as cheerleaders for US foreign policy. Seven countries (including Canada, France and Germany) have already signed on to help secure the Strait of Hormuz which is only blocked because of yet another US misadventure.

        A lot of these countries are small and in terms of global influence would be middle powers at best if not part of a Western bloc. Trump is slowly eroding the concept of a Western bloc so the idea of collective credibility or collective values is eroding with that.

        Most of the rest of the world sees Western countries as vassals of the US and the question now is will they be able to assert their independence on the world stage or will they simply go along with the US as they often do.

        • Instigate@aussie.zone
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          8 days ago

          Care to point to any reports that other nations are viewing those other Western countries poorly as a result of Trump’s actions?

          Securing the Strait of Hormuz seems to be self-interested actions by those nations; an attempt to reduce the impact of higher oil prices on their own economies. It’s a far cry from the Western world following the USA into Iraq with boots on the ground 20-odd years ago.

          Trump is eroding the idea of a USA-led Western bloc. Canada’s PM Carney is leading the charge to create new middle-power blocs to establish credibility outside of the USA’s influence. I’m yet to see reports that those measures are being viewed in a negative fashion by the rest of the world, but I’m happy to be corrected.