The incoming German chancellor, more convinced than ever that the defense and trade relationship with Washington is crumbling, has made plans to execute on his goal of ā€œindependence from the U.S.A.ā€

Heā€™s not the only one.

The new Canadian prime minister said last week that ā€œthe old relationship we had with the United Statesā€ ā€” the tightest of military and economic partnerships ā€” is now ā€œover.ā€ Polandā€™s president is musing publicly about getting nuclear weapons. And the new leader of Greenland, host to American air bases since World War II, reacted to the uninvited visit of a high-level American delegation with indignation.

. . .

These are the results so far of President Trumpā€™s threats to abandon NATO allies whose contributions he judges insufficient, his declaration that the European Union was designed ā€œto screwā€ the United States and his efforts to expand the United Statesā€™ land mass. The main reaction is resistance all around. Now, into this maelstrom of threats, alienation and recriminations, President Trump is expected to announce his ā€œLiberation Dayā€ tariffs on Wednesday.

. . .

Mr. Trump is already showing signs of concern that his targets may team up against him.

MBFC
Archive