Eliot Cohen on Trump's Foreign Policy, US-Europe Relations, and Ukraine

Trump's National Security Strategy

• 💡 The national security strategy is described as incoherent and self-contradictory, reflecting Trump's worldview that international relations are primarily about deals and framed in commercial terms rather than geopolitical competition.
• ⚠️ While alarming to Europeans, the document also contains contradictions, such as advocating for respect of other cultures while demanding European allies conform to American norms.
• 🎯 A core criticism is the framing of China solely in commercial terms, neglecting its aggressive behavior in the South China Sea.

US-Europe Relations and Defense Spending

• 🌍 Trump's criticism of Europe for underinvesting in its own defense is acknowledged as a necessary point, though his tactics are seen as unpleasant and an affront to the global order.
• 💰 European leaders, including Germany, have increased defense spending, partly out of fear of a potential Trump presidency, demonstrating a correlation between his