In many ways, the Trump-Putin summit in Helsinki was the latest bizarre turn in Donald Trump’s pursuit of personal diplomacy, and yet at the same time it confirmed a familiar pattern. US allies are snubbed, belittled, threatened and coerced in the name of US political and economic might.
The US president named the European Union a trade foe, apparently finding it more of a threat than Russia, which he only labelled a competitor in Helsinki. In June this year, he trifled with other members of the G7 grouping and withdrew his consent to the text of the final communique when he could not bully his way through their united front. Last week, Nato members had to consider what had been unthinkable for 70 years, that is, the possibility of US withdrawal from the pact, after Trump issued a threat to ensure that other members increased their military spending.
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