UPDATE, JANUARY 18:: More conversation about the worrying prospect of incoming US President Donald Trump for US-European relations, this talk with London’s Talk Radio.
The chat begins at the 7:11 mark, during the 11:30-12:00 segment of the program:
Listen to discussion
Donald Trump doesn’t speak in coordinated policy. He speaks in thought bubbles and he tweets in thought bubbles. Some of those thought bubbles may stick to a wall, some may disappear.
But what concerns me, not just with respect to Germany but with respect to NATO, is that those thought bubbles are increasingly picked up and indeed seem to resonate with Russia’s propaganda line.
See also EA’s Political WorldView Podcast: Donald Trump Becomes President
US Podcast: Dissecting Trump & His “Ambassador to the European Union”
US Podcast: Trump’s Danger to Europe and NATO
ORIGINAL ENTRY: I spoke with BBC WM on Tuesday about Donald Trump’s latest remarks about Europe, including his assertion that NATO is “obsolete”.
There is also discussion about how Friday’s inauguration will go (“not very well”).
Listen to discussion
This is bad political jazz, without thought or coherence. It is dangerous.
There are real issue to be considered about NATO, for example, contributions from each country, for example, coordination, for example, dealing with a very aggressive Russian foreign and military policy.
But let’s not make a mistake here. Trump’s not addressing these as you and I might, giving them serious consideration. He just throws out a provocative statement: 1) to control headline and 2) because his talking points are aligned with those of the Russian Government, including President Vladimir Putin.
