Trump’s unpredictability overshadows NATO’s Hague summit, forcing allies to hike defense spending while confronting the Russian threat.
NATO
Annexing Canada would incite Canadian resistance, global backlash, U.S. unrest, and ultimately mutual destruction, collapsing American influence.
Russia’s deployment of the Oreshnik missile escalates the Ukraine conflict, but its impact may be more psychological than strategic.
President-elect Donald Trump is seen as sympathetic toward Russia, but his past policies have directly and indirectly helped Ukraine and hurt Moscow.
Trump’s Europe policy could strain relations with the EU and NATO allies. But Europe is already preparing for reduced defense cooperation and higher tariffs.
Ukraine’s military draft is deepening its manpower crisis, putting more pressure on the West to increase aid and potentially deploy troops.
British and French positions on Ukraine have hardened as Russian offensive operations have continued unabated.
Conscription is not popular in Ukraine. Many Ukrainians consider the system of enlistment to be unjust and beset by corruption.
The world needs a NATO that can function without relying on Trump, if international support for Ukraine is going to continue.
The presence of British forces in Ukraine doesn’t make the UK a combatant in the war, but there remains the risk of escalation.