Our posture all but guarantees retaliation from the U.S. administration

Our fight, it is no exaggeration to say, is the civilized world’s fight. It is a fight for reason and comity in the affairs of nations, against an administration whose worldview, and behaviour, is increasingly that of an aggressive dictatorship, in all its crudeness and its thuggery.

Mr. Trump, as the Prime Minister has said, aims to “break us,” a phrase with historic echoes. He has to now, or others will follow our lead. If he succeeds, then the world will be governed by nothing but force in the end, in trade as in other matters. But if we prevail, then “broad and sunlit uplands” must surely await.

  • Avid Amoeba@lemmy.caEnglish
    40·
    10 days ago

    Contrast this with how other countries have responded to American threats. Japan, which relies on the U.S. for 3 per cent of its GDP, nevertheless agreed to a 15-per-cent baseline U.S. tariff – down from the 25-per-cent tariff it was facing otherwise – while committing to invest US$550-billion in the U.S., increase purchases of U.S. energy and agricultural products, and provide greater access for American cars.

    The European Union, with an exposure to the U.S. similar to Japan’s and an economy two-thirds the size of the U.S.’s, likewise buckled, making a long list of concessions – no tariffs on U.S. industrial goods, wider access for U.S. agricultural products, and increased purchases of U.S. energy, AI chips, and defence equipment, in addition to US$600-billion in investment – “in return for” agreeing to U.S. tariffs of 15 per cent.

    Been watching in dismay as this unfolded. Blatant betrayal of people’s interests. I expected quite a bit more from the EU especially. I expected more than from our gov given how much more exposed and infiltrated we are.

      • k0e3@lemmy.caEnglish
        9·
        10 days ago

        Japan is working hard to build more connections with other countries including Canada for trade but it’s really hard for our government to disobey the “master” that is the USA for now. Like you said, our economy is highly dependent on them and so is our national security. As an Okinawan-Canadian, I could never fully trust the USA but the mainlanders just don’t seem to give a shit.

        Their military presence on the island where I live scares the shit out of me. What if Diaper Hitler just suddenly said, “fuck it Okinawa is ours now,” and take over??

      • Auli@lemmy.caEnglish
        17·
        10 days ago

        What bullshit they did nothing and well do nothing. Just like last time Canada took a stand against a country.

    • qyron@sopuli.xyzEnglish
      5·
      10 days ago

      To paraphrase Clarence Boddicker in Robocop: " Guns, guns, guns!"

      The US has them and the cannon fodder to wield them, while Japan is saddled with a constitution that prevents military ramp-up, while Europe has been sleeping under the umbrella.

      And I am not in favour in any way of nuclear escalation not military arming.

      But these are the most obvious causes one can point at.