It is telling that this Tectonic change is given very little space in The Times and The Telegraph. A sentence here and there on Ukraine articles, but nothing major. When Europe does say or do something vaguely wrong, headlines in these papers for days. On this? Nealy nothing. I wonder why? Trump every word though, repeated endlessly and given their own headlines.
Thank you Ian. Great post - full of optimism. And I pray to God you're right.
I have been a life-long pacifist, but equally a "no way the aggressor should be allowed to get away with it". It's a tricky balancing act, but there are lines that just can't be crossed - no matter what your views on war. And Russia have been crossing that line for over a decade.
For too long Europe has seen our dependency on the USA as symbiotic. But it never was anything other than dependency - and (maybe) we should be grateful to Trump for the wake up call. Maybe it's the one good thing he will achieve. I seriously doubt any other good will come from his second term.
Side-note. Do you have the misfortune of reading Dominic Cummins on Substack? If not, don't bother! His latest post, (a meandering, incoherent tirade of conspiracy theories and unhinged thinking), spends the best part of 20 minutes, suggesting the logical option would be to hand over Ukraine to Russia. I thought he might have some interesting thoughts on current affairs - even if I didn't agree with them. Turns out, he's bat-shit fucking crazy! Should have known better... and I've unsubscribed.
Agree with every word Ian - it's almost exhilarating in a way, although there's always that need to check yourself and remember that 'excitement' in politics is nearly always bad news for the most vulnerable, in the short term at least.
The caveat I'd put on all this is that we still need to face the Atlantic at least some of the time - Trumpism might not be forever, and I'm not not willing to accept the long-term loss of the US giant to the cause of Western liberal democracy. And in the immediate term, Europe - and the UK most of all - can't lose sight of the threat to Canada, and Greenland too.
If the West now spans from Yukon to Ukraine (see what I did there? I like that!) then we need to fight for all of it.
Brilliant. Realistic and factual analysis. Fingers crossed. Let’s hope Starmer can straddle the chasm and that Europe finally wakes up from its slumber…
It's all so up in the air at the moment. It occurred to me last night that Trump would be perfectly happy for the EU/UK etc to spend a lot of money, resources etc on defending Ukraine because whilst we're all looking one way he then decides to invade Greenland and Canada and the 'new EU' can't react to any sort of Nato article 5.
And that looks completely barking written down, but hey, we are where we are.
Beautifullly inciteful article, Ian. It is so ironic that through his mad cap blunderings Trump may have actually done the liberal minded democracies of Europe one huge favour. Hope and terrifying reality all at same time!
This has made my weekend. The positivity toward Europe (which has certainly earned it this week in a coming together of tribes and unity) is a reason for guarded optimism. Thank you.
Great article, a new European alignment without the pro-Putin aspect would be amzing. Instead of it always being America fuck yeah, it could just be fuck America
Your reporting kept me sane during Brexit and now you happen to be doing it again. Thanks :)
What an outstanding article!
Hope. It's a small word but a huge and beautiful thing.
It is telling that this Tectonic change is given very little space in The Times and The Telegraph. A sentence here and there on Ukraine articles, but nothing major. When Europe does say or do something vaguely wrong, headlines in these papers for days. On this? Nealy nothing. I wonder why? Trump every word though, repeated endlessly and given their own headlines.
Thank you Ian. Great post - full of optimism. And I pray to God you're right.
I have been a life-long pacifist, but equally a "no way the aggressor should be allowed to get away with it". It's a tricky balancing act, but there are lines that just can't be crossed - no matter what your views on war. And Russia have been crossing that line for over a decade.
For too long Europe has seen our dependency on the USA as symbiotic. But it never was anything other than dependency - and (maybe) we should be grateful to Trump for the wake up call. Maybe it's the one good thing he will achieve. I seriously doubt any other good will come from his second term.
Side-note. Do you have the misfortune of reading Dominic Cummins on Substack? If not, don't bother! His latest post, (a meandering, incoherent tirade of conspiracy theories and unhinged thinking), spends the best part of 20 minutes, suggesting the logical option would be to hand over Ukraine to Russia. I thought he might have some interesting thoughts on current affairs - even if I didn't agree with them. Turns out, he's bat-shit fucking crazy! Should have known better... and I've unsubscribed.
Agree with every word Ian - it's almost exhilarating in a way, although there's always that need to check yourself and remember that 'excitement' in politics is nearly always bad news for the most vulnerable, in the short term at least.
The caveat I'd put on all this is that we still need to face the Atlantic at least some of the time - Trumpism might not be forever, and I'm not not willing to accept the long-term loss of the US giant to the cause of Western liberal democracy. And in the immediate term, Europe - and the UK most of all - can't lose sight of the threat to Canada, and Greenland too.
If the West now spans from Yukon to Ukraine (see what I did there? I like that!) then we need to fight for all of it.
For Europe's sake, I pray these changes bring Britain back into the EU, which would be a stinging defeat for Putin.
This situation brings a whole new meaning to ‘sun’s out; guns out’ but I’m so pleased Europe is getting its act together and we are part of it.
Such a positive step after 9-10 years of narrow minded stupidity
Both Tectonic and Teutonic.
Your best article I've read. Incisive and clear, puts most commentators in the rags to shame.
Brilliant. Realistic and factual analysis. Fingers crossed. Let’s hope Starmer can straddle the chasm and that Europe finally wakes up from its slumber…
Hope - yes.
Reality Bites: "Things could collapse so quickly in Ukraine that we simply do not have the time to defend it" 😭
It's all so up in the air at the moment. It occurred to me last night that Trump would be perfectly happy for the EU/UK etc to spend a lot of money, resources etc on defending Ukraine because whilst we're all looking one way he then decides to invade Greenland and Canada and the 'new EU' can't react to any sort of Nato article 5.
And that looks completely barking written down, but hey, we are where we are.
Beautifullly inciteful article, Ian. It is so ironic that through his mad cap blunderings Trump may have actually done the liberal minded democracies of Europe one huge favour. Hope and terrifying reality all at same time!
This has made my weekend. The positivity toward Europe (which has certainly earned it this week in a coming together of tribes and unity) is a reason for guarded optimism. Thank you.
Great article, a new European alignment without the pro-Putin aspect would be amzing. Instead of it always being America fuck yeah, it could just be fuck America
They say it’s the hope that kills you, but this almost made me weep.
I KNOW it’s early days but after all these years of wretched, deceitful betrayal, it is so good to read!
Thank you, Dunty!