The current president of the US is convinced, as are many Americans, that the USA is an indispensable nation. Arguably, this view is widely shared. But is it true? Certainly, the liberal world order established by the US at Bretton Woods in 1944, made the US a world financial and political hegemon. No question. It is also true that many countries came to be complacent about their own economies and security because Uncle Sam would “always” be there as a backstop. Yes, we Canadians were probably first in line as far as complacency and dependence on our southern neighbour.

Time to wake up and smell the coffee. The Chancellor-Elect of Germany expressed it best a couple of weeks ago. On 23 Feb Frederick Merz said:

My absolute priority [as Chancellor] will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can achieve independence from the USA. I never thought I would have to say something like this … But after Donald Trump’s statements … it is clear that the Americans, this administration, are largely indifferent to the fate of Europe.

Germany is re-arming, and practically every country in the EU is following suit. France is talking about the possibility of putting nuclear missiles in Ukraine. Britain has promised troops if needed — not to fight, but for security. Poland is on track to making themselves one of the largest military powers on the continent. The trend is clear.

The Mafia boss sitting in The Mansion on Pennsylvania Ave (when he’s not overwhelmed with work on a golf course somewhere) has inadvertently caused practically all of the “free world” to turn against him. Anyone who would suggest that this is part of some grand plan to force NATO allies to spend more on defence should think again because grand plans require thinking beyond what you’ll wear tomorrow (hmmm, white shirt, red tie, blue suit …). There is no plan, grand, or otherwise.

It is true that practically all NATO countries are now upping their defence budgets but who’s supplying the weapons? The biggest arms producer in the world (the US)? No, the Europeans, Scandinavians, Brits and Koreans are talking to each other. How can this be? Don’t the western democracies need American weapons to keep their countries safe? Nope. Not so much. They all have robust arms industries and can meet each other’s demands for guns as well as butter. And they’re about to prove it.

America the indispensable nation? The dustbins of history are littered with “indispensable” nations ….