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AIBU?

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To wonder why we continue to view the US as an ally?

62 replies

Consultationbroom · 11/10/2026 12:36

After Trump’s diesel decision, AIBU to wonder why we continue to view the US as an ally? They don’t like us, they don’t care about us, in their view, we’re irrelevant. Isn’t it time to wean ourselves off the US teet?

OP posts:
PurpleAxe · Yesterday 02:36

Would you prefer them as an enemy?

11AndCounting · Yesterday 06:15

They certainly aren't an ally anymore.

If their economy had been stronger, and were it not for the degree of leverage they EU still has (the trade bazooka threat), we could easily have seen boots on the ground in Greenland - and their signaling to Argentina over the Falklands has been quite clear. The Putin deal is just a continuation of what they've been doing for the past couple of years.

It has been clear as day since Trump's first term that Europe needs to take care of its own security. The political will wasn't there, given poor economic conditions, and the hope that normal service would be resumed in 2020. That, obviously, turned out to be a mistake.

It's worth remembering, too, that there are others in his administration (including Vance) who are more hostile to Europe than Trump is. It isn't just Trump that is (for whatever reason) Putin-sympathetic, a lot of the US right view Europe with contempt.

That there is a degree of codependency is our saving grace, and hopefully buys enough time for Europe to stand better on its own two feet.

This will only hurt the US in the long term, too. Much if its wealth has been generated by being seen as the stable, mostly fair, centre of the world economy. It's allies are probably what kept the US as the world's dominant superpower. It has very arguably lost that status already and Trump has certainly accelerated it.

Carney has the right idea re. a middle powers alliance.

WantALieDown · Yesterday 06:24

Agree, who stands after Trump? Vance? He is even scarier.

hattie43 · Yesterday 06:40

I don’t think it’s a US issue it’s a Trump issue . I do think an age limit should be introduced for Presidents. It’s hard to know what is just bad or a slip into dementia.

11AndCounting · Yesterday 06:52

hattie43 · Yesterday 06:40

I don’t think it’s a US issue it’s a Trump issue . I do think an age limit should be introduced for Presidents. It’s hard to know what is just bad or a slip into dementia.

Its not just a Trump issue, its the US right (Republicans).

There are plenty of prominent, anti-Europe politicians in the current administration and, among Republican voters, more view the EU negatively than positively, and they are similarly souring on the UK (approval in the low 60s, where it had previously been steadily in the high 80s or 90s).

Things may be better under Democrat administrations, but we can never trust the US as a country again.

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · Yesterday 06:53

11AndCounting · Yesterday 06:52

Its not just a Trump issue, its the US right (Republicans).

There are plenty of prominent, anti-Europe politicians in the current administration and, among Republican voters, more view the EU negatively than positively, and they are similarly souring on the UK (approval in the low 60s, where it had previously been steadily in the high 80s or 90s).

Things may be better under Democrat administrations, but we can never trust the US as a country again.

Ultimately, it's the US electorate which put Trump in power.

We can't trust them.

11AndCounting · Yesterday 07:00

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · Yesterday 06:53

Ultimately, it's the US electorate which put Trump in power.

We can't trust them.

Broadly what I meant by "as a country", while allowing for the possibility they don't remain a democracy.

Summerhillsquare · Yesterday 08:59

waltzingparrot · 11/10/2026 12:52

I suspect the normal special relationship, as we know it, will resume once Trump is now longer in power.

I don't think he's planning on giving up power. Elections are being gerrymandered for Republicans, or rather what passes for Republicans these days.

Consultationbroom · Yesterday 09:00

Yeah, but it’s not the 1940s?

OP posts:
JuliaAgrippina · Yesterday 11:36

I’m confident that a Democratic president will want to rebuild alliances asap.

They may want to but they've torn up a lot of international trade agreements and alliances so how can anyone else rely on next guy or guy after them respecting anything worked out and signed by previous people.

Trade agreements take years to hammer out if they are constantly thrown when next guy comes in why bother.

I think it's a wider problem than Trump - he just does everything badly. Many things that get pointed at previous presdidents of both colours had done in more limited or with more poltical cover -- he just does everything at once and badly so it's impossible to miss.

LilyBunch25 · Yesterday 11:41

I don't.

Lizzieregina · Yesterday 13:17

WantALieDown · Yesterday 06:24

Agree, who stands after Trump? Vance? He is even scarier.

True that he’s scarier, because he actually has a working brain, but hopefully he’s done enough damage that he won’t be viable.

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