An Expert in Grand Strategy Thinks Trump Is on to Something

Politico ^ | 16 Jan, 2025 | Thomas P.M. Barnett

[MtnClimber]

Do you want a future in which Canada defects to the EU, Russia rules the Arctic and China runs Latin America? That’s the default outcome of non-action.

Our inbound president Donald Trump generates torrents of diplomatic angst with statements about Canada being America’s “51st state,” the national security logic of buying Greenland from allied Denmark, and snatching back the Panama Canal to counter China’s growing economic footprint throughout our hemisphere. Where is all this expansionist energy coming from? How did Trump’s America First isolationism suddenly morph into an Americas First mergers and acquisition (M&A) strategy?

Let’s be clear on who Trump is: The man does not come with a vision of his own making but with a stunningly effective capacity to sense fear within the ranks and weaponize it for political mobilization.

Americans are scared and angry right now, feeling deeply uncertain about the nation’s trajectory and globalization’s increasingly fierce competitive landscape. We want someone strong and confident to tell us how we can be great again without assuming undue global responsibilities and a return to Boomer-esque Cold War-standoffs with both China and Russia.

A tough needle to thread alright, but Trump’s instincts are correct, and he’s uniquely suited for the task.

There is an only-Nixon-can-go-to-China opportunity here. Nixon shocked the world in 1972 by formally recognizing China’s communist regime. Americans trusted him on that bold, history-bending move because he was the quintessential anti-communist. If Trump, the quintessential isolationist and climate change-denier, negotiates US expansionism across North America (Canada, Greenland), then Americans may well trust his national security logic that we’re in a “Race for the Arctic” with both China and Russia

[MtnClimber]

A good article except for the author’s repeated blubbering about “climate change”.

[Red Badger]

Henceforth I will refer to all ‘climate change’ aficionados as ‘climate cultists’...............

[jeffc]

The man does not come with a vision of his own making but with a stunningly effective capacity to sense fear within the ranks and weaponize it for political mobilization.

Trump-hating gaslighter. Thinks Trump can't think, plan or strategize.

Trump is way ahead of this moron...

[PIF]

Trump’s America First isolationism never existed in the first place, except in fervid minds of too many MAGA supporters who have poor reading skills and less knowledge of history - both American and world.

[Valpal1]

Well there’s this stupidity

“The man does not come with a vision of his own making...”

The lefties still understand nothing about trump.

[central_va]

If Trump, the quintessential isolationist and climate change-denier

"Helm, all stop."

[TexasFreeper2009]

Climate change is real, it is “man-made climate change” which is leftist BS. The climate has been “changing” ever since the Earth was created.

[BlackbirdSST]

Trump’s America First isolationism never existed in the first place, except in fervid minds of too many MAGA supporters who have poor reading skills and less knowledge of history - both American and world.

It looks like speedy had you biting the pillow last night. That is some serious TDS butthurt on display.

[TexasFreeper2009]

Yep, exactly correct!

Trump never promoted isolationism. Trump simply wants our supposed allies to pay their fair share instead of American taxpayers holding the bag for every leftist socialist country in the world. And Trump wants fair trade deals with foreign countries instead of ones that bend us over without lube.

[Carl Vehse]

Red Bafger @3: "Henceforth I will refer to all ‘climate change’ aficionados as ‘climate cultists’....."

Henceforth I will use your reference to 'climate cultists.'

[WeaslesRippedMyFlesh]

stable genius

[Tallguy]

“The lefties still understand nothing about trump.”

Yet the author is still paying the man (Trump) a compliment of sorts. That may be enough.

[Valpal1]

I guess leftists only do left handed compliments.

[libertylover]

Let’s be clear on who Trump is: The man does not come with a vision of his own making but with a stunningly effective capacity to sense fear within the ranks and weaponize it for political mobilization.

The idiotic opinion of a Trump hater.

[Tallguy]

I think you nailed them.

[Cen-Tejas]

Here in Central Texas, albeit infrequently, I’ve seen days where it is freezing (i.e. 32 degrees) at 7 a.m. and low eighties in the mid afternoon.

So, around here, lol, we have “micro” climate change every freakin day!

It’s “the arrogance of man”, with some stupidity mixed in, that makes him THINK he can CHANGE the CLIMATE.

[combat_boots]

Have watched Bannon on E Palestine, W NC, E TN, and GA, on efforts to rebuild

I grade these “F”

If DC disappeared, I would not cry.

[pierrem15]

Interesting article in Die Welt a week or so ago about this:

a) shocks the Europeans into thinking about US security interests in addition to their own;

b) reminds Latin American countries that the US can and will do something about adversaries or fellow travelers in this hemisphere;

c) shows that the US is ready and willing to assert more direct control of North America should it be necessary due to allies inaction or cooptation by America's adversaries.

[MayflowerMadam]

That was a gut-wrenching episode today. Those poor people.