The world is in a precarious state, with treaties and laws no longer respected, alliances broken, and trust at an all-time low. Donald Trump, the US president, has been a vocal harbinger of this dark era. His presidency has been marked by selfish arrogance, dodgy deals, and brazen lies.
However, it’s essential to separate Trump from the broader issue. The US president is just a symptom of a larger problem – a world turned upside down. As European leaders grapple with how to respond to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, they must also address the toxic politics that Trump represents.
The Ukrainian people are fighting for freedom and democracy, and their cause is simple: the US cannot be relied upon anymore. Europe needs to step up and provide more support to Ukraine, including better weapons, humanitarian aid, and financial backing. The EU should demand an immediate halt to all fighting in Ukraine and launch a peace process that includes all interested parties.
European leaders must put pressure on the US government to provide credible security guarantees for Ukraine and take a stand against Russia’s aggression. They also need to confront their own role in enabling this situation, including Trump’s influence on Western politics.
The stakes are high. If Europe fails to resist, it will embolden Putin and set a disastrous precedent for free people worldwide. The consequences of inaction would be catastrophic, with the world descending into chaos.
The US has been warned about the dangers of its current trajectory. George Orwell’s 1984 described a dystopian world divided between three superstates – Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia – marked by totalitarianism, mass surveillance, and repression. We are on the brink of a new era of wickedness, and it starts with Trump’s administration in the Oval Office.
Unless Europe resists, this nightmare will become a reality. It’s time for leaders to put aside their differences and take a stand against Putin and Trump’s toxic politics. The world is counting on them.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/03/donald-trump-world-leaders-democracy