You get those times, don’t you, when the world seems to turn upside down. Everything changes and you wonder whether you will ever revert to the old normal. 9/11, Covid-19 and the Global Financial Crisis are but three examples, yet somehow we recovered. The old war order, a strong America, a united Europe and all guarded by NATO, it seemed enough. Today, it doesn’t feel anywhere near enough. I fear we are approaching a turning point in our history.
America’s attacks on Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro feels like a Rubicon has been crossed. No one in their right mind could claim that Maduro was one of the good guys. He was a dictator who ruled by decree. Thousands of people died in extrajudicial killings, seven million people have left the country due to the economic collapse, following devastating US sanctions. Donald Trump, himself an elective dictator, acting well beyond the norms of a conventional democratically elected president could be the most dangerous man in the world, a far bigger threat to the lives we currently live and the dystopian world he offers.
We could do nothing about Trump’s attacks on Venezuela, which appears to have far more to do with oil than anything else, as he seeks to rewards his super rich pals and now America threatens the giant wilderness of Greenland, an autonomous territory in the Kingdom of Denmark, with invasion, under the guise of security but in truth to plunder its resources of oil. An illegal invasion of an ally by America, which in truth would be hard to resist, militarily speaking. We could not allow it to happen without comment, but what next? Cuba? Columbia? The near certain destruction of NATO? The abandonment of Ukraine? Ignore a Chinese invasion of Taiwan?
We used to laugh about Trump, but hardly anyone is laughing now, as the world starts to turn upside down. We know all about fascist Russia’s expansionist plans, as we understand the threats to the world from Communist China, both economically and militarily. Until now the post war consensus has just about held firm. I fear that is all about to unravel.
I have observed the reactions from many, urging that we immediately cut ties with the USA and end cooperation with Trump’s administration and it is tempting to go along with that. But it is not that simple. Like it or not, we are closely linked the the USA, yes economically and militarily. We have consistently elected governments who favour close links. What happens if we unilaterally break links with Trump’s America? One thing is certain: there will be enormous, almost certainly unimaginable, consequences for all of us in terms of how we live our lives, how we travel, our standard of living, our jobs and our independence as a country.
Russia tried to weaken Europe by pouring enormous resources into the Brexit campaign, something that Trump and his key lieutenants like Elon Musk wish to continue and accelerate by undermining and ultimately destroying the EU. Fascists to the left of us, fascists to the right. Here we are, stuck in the middle with our natural allies, as among others Winston Churchill believed, Europe.
NATO is the biggie. If the USA walks away, it would have no presence in Europe, Africa or the Middle East. Who is to say that in particular Africa and the Middle East could edge towards fascist Russia or even China? One example: no USA, no Middle East; no oil? Think about the influence of America in everything in our lives. We might not like to think about it but if things really went downhill but the effects on our country could, would, be catastrophic, as they would be across the whole world. Only Russia and China would be celebrating.
And this is all possible. The destruction of the world as we know it is closer than we might imagine. We might not be victims of a nuclear war, but the effects on our lives would nonetheless be disastrous. Just think of everything you like to do and imagine how it might be affected in a new world order, led by an unhinged US President, Fascist Russia and Communist China. Everything would be up for grabs, from the armed forces we rely on to the food we eat to the drugs we need to keep us alive.
Perhaps, Trump will back down from his threat to use the military to invade Greenland, but who would bet against it? Yes, that would change everything. No wonder our politicians are treading so carefully: it’s only everything, including our way of life, that’s at stake.
This is about way more than 9/11, Covid-19 and the Global Financial Crisis: it’s hardly an exaggeration to suggest this will be existential, certainly to the lives we live. I have never been so worried about any worldwide crisis in my life. If you aren’t, too, may I suggest, as politely as possible, that you haven’t been paying attention?
