It’s been a year now of waking up and going to bed wondering who Trump is going to lash out at next.
Which is probably a huge waste of time—at the rate he’s going, he’ll have picked a fight with everyone in no time. Ushering in a period of international insecurity and uncertainty in the process.
And that’s something we need to take note of. Because it’s what really matters for a country like Greece. That we can no longer take anything for granted. That nothing is self-evident anymore.
Even the rule of law on which the entire post-war system of international and interpersonal relations was built is being openly contested by the new US administration.
It’s a whole new ball game, and we need a whole new bag of tricks.
Meaning that while invoking international law and legitimacy over and over again is certainly welcome, it is only of relative importance. It’s good to keep on reminding people of our principled position, just as long as we’re fully aware that a frigate or two wouldn’t hurt, either.
For better or worse, when the other guy has no qualms about dismantling NATO, openly undermining Europe, or directly threatening his allies over Greenland, there isn’t an agreement, alliance or guarantee in the world that can provide any real security.
“But frigates cost money!” I hear the foolish objections. Really? Then let’s go buy a few at Lidl, or should we confine ourselves to defending our national sovereignty with spear-guns.
It is obvious our country has no great power aspirations, and isn’t going to acquire any, either. What it has always aspired to do—and always will, above all else—is defend its existence as a nation in every case and by every means.
In a world in which no one knows what tomorrow may bring, and which parameters will define the new world order, such a stance is a matter of elementary foresight.
And, frankly, I don’t think we’ve got our head round the uncomfortable fact that we are going to live through things we’ve never experienced before, and which no one had warned us about or prepared us for.
So we need alliances. We need treaties and diplomacy and international law, of course. But we need armaments, too, which I hope we’ll never have call to use.
The new bag of tricks we were talking about.
There can be no doubt the US is pushing for a global redistribution of power and influence. Whether out of presidential egotism, political myopia or simple stupidity, there’s nothing we can do to stop it.
What we can and must do is adapt to the new situation as best we can. And to do that, we have first to set aside the ideological navel-gazing and acknowledge the absolute necessity of adapting—so we can all work towards it.
