Trump 2.0 will ‘go live’ in a geopolitical context where war is raging
Australia spends ~2% of GDP on Defence. The USA spends 3.5%. That’s quite the favourable deal we’re getting via the US taxpayer ⬇️
The US people have spoken and last week we saw President-elect Trump mount the greatest political comeback in US history.
How Trump Will Change the World
The contours and consequences of a second-term foreign policy.
Trump 2.0 will ‘go live’ in a geopolitical context where war is raging. Ukraine, the Middle East, Houthi’s blockading the Red Sea and of course China salami slicing in the South China Sea and Taiwan. Peter Feaver in @Foreign Affairs Magazine (which we’ll post in the comments) considers how Trump will approach Foreign Affairs and management of his allies and adversaries alike:
“The essence of Trump’s approach to foreign policy—naked transactionalism—remains unchanged. But the context in which he will try to carry out his idiosyncratic form of dealmaking has changed dramatically: the world today is a far more dangerous place than it was during his first term.”
Rather than pearl clutching, now is the time to master the Art of the Comeback and get real about mutually beneficial transactions with a President who always wants a good deal. As VP designate J.D. Vance recently said:
“Look at the number of people working in manufacturing in Australia now versus ten years ago. Look at the critical raw materials produced in Australia now versus ten years ago. The energy dependence now versus 10 or 20 years ago. We have got to stop deindustrializing. We want Australia to be successful, but Australia has got to take a bigger role in its own security. You can’t do that without industry.”
Actually that was Germany he was talking about – and Europe. But his remarks are just as pertinent to this nation. If our political and military leaders believe this is the most dangerous geopolitical context for Australia since World War II we need credible action, not just plans, to enhance our Defence and National Security.
It is perfectly foreseeable that President Trump will ask NATO members to do more. It is perfectly foreseeable that President Trump will allies and partners like Australia, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan to do more.
How much longer will the US taxpayer accept subsiding Australia while we collect a peace dividend?
🖼️ via @Foreign Affairs Magazine
SENATOR VANCE DELIVERS A “WAKE UP CALL” TO MUNICH SECURITY CONFERENCE – J.D. Vance
“I think there’s a fundamental issue here that Europe really has to wake up to … You don’t win wars with GDP or euros or dollars. You win wars with weapons, and the West doesn’t make enough weapons.” MUNICH, GERMANY – Senator JD Vance (R-OH) delivered a “wake up call” to Europe in remarks to the Munich […]