It is, perhaps, an unfortunate truth that the image of a country is often synonymous with the image of its ruler, at least in the view of people looking into that country from the outside. Sometimes that’s good, and the image enhances the perceived worth and reliability of the country internationally, and sometimes it is the exact opposite. None of us likes to be branded, particularly when that branding does not reflect our own image of ourselves. When that branding becomes significantly detrimental both to us individually and to our country, it is time to do something about it.
In these blogs I have occasionally offered perspectives on the current image of the United States written by people from other countries. I do that so my readers get a different way of looking at our world that is not tainted by domestic U.S. politics, domestic U.S. media and our own political biases. It is in that setting that I now offer the opinion of the German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, given in address last week. The title of his opinion was “Words of truth and great sadness” – German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier enrages MAGA world by declaring that the United States under Trump is destroying the world order and turning it into a “den of robbers.” He explained his position as follows:
“The rest of the globe is done pulling punches…
“Then there is the breakdown of values by our most important partner, the United States, which helped build this world order,” Steinmeier said a symposium, clearly referring to the illegal kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Trump’s threats to seize Greenland.
“In my opinion, we have now moved beyond the stage where we can lament the lack of respect for international law or the erosion of the international order. We are far beyond that, I believe,” he continued. “Both disrespect and erosion are well advanced. I believe that, and I want to emphasize it a little.”
“It is about preventing the world from turning into a den of robbers, where the most unscrupulous take whatever they want, where regions or entire countries are treated as the property of a few great powers,” he continued. “Where even medium-sized states, such as ours, are being pushed to the margins of history, and where smaller and weaker states are left completely unprotected.”
“Trump has admitted that his invasion of Venezuela was carried out so that American corporations can take over that nation’s vast oil reserves. It’s naked imperialism and rank gangsterism, and the rest of the world is understandably horrified. Our closest allies are racing to keep us at arm’s length — a deeply destabilizing development at a time when we should be banding together against our ascendant adversaries.”
Steinmeier’s concerns are well-founded and, as it turns out, they mirror those of his countrymen. A poll for the public broadcaster ARD just discovered that 76% of Germans now believe that they cannot rely on the United States as a stable partner. Only 15% believe that they can trust the U.S.A.
For all of his strongman posturing, Trump is making us weaker by the day. His fascist supporters may get a sick thrill out of watching him bully foreign countries, but the bill for all of this evil will come due. If we continue down this path, we will soon find ourselves isolated, despised, and unable to call upon help when we need it most.
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Hasn’t this always been the truth?
“It is about preventing the world from turning into a den of robbers, where the most unscrupulous take whatever they want, where regions or entire countries are treated as the property of a few great powers,” he continued. “Where even medium-sized states, such as ours, are being pushed to the margins of history, and where smaller and weaker states are left completely unprotected.”