By terryyip @Adobe Stock
Breaking an Alliance with the Middle East, Asia, and Africa
Russia’s brutal aggression against Ukraine is about to hit the three-year mark. With his election as the 47th US president, Donald Trump, instead of following in Neville Chamberland’s footsteps, has a historic opportunity to help ensure peace.
By following Neville Chamberland’s footsteps, America would be “weakened and poorer,” warns Margus Tsahnkna in the WSJ. Instead, Trump can follow the steps of Winston Churchill, “ushering in a just, lasting peace that cows the enemies of the U.S. worldwide,” continues Estonia’s foreign minister.
Minister Tsahnkna is optimistic that Donald Trump will take the road to peace in Europe. “The only path to peace,” councils Estonia’s Foreign Minister, is for Russia to “withdraw from Ukraine and remain within its borders, with Moscow’s defeat made bluntly clear.”
Part of the key is to not even hint at potential concessions of Ukraine’s territory.
Such concessions would only make Mr. Putin assume he can get more. He’ll use any period without active combat to recover Russia’s strength before continuing to grab more land by force when it’s convenient to him.
Tightly Aligned European Markets
Under the shadow of a military threat that would mean losses for the American economy, Europe realizes that the U.S. economy is deeply integrated with Europe’s: each is the other’s most important market.
Any European country preoccupied with fending off an invader is also out of the business of buying American civilian goods or services.
Fighting leads to logistical knots for international trade, which means shortages and increased prices for Americans. Food prices peaked worldwide in March 2022 because of the invasion’s effect on Ukraine’s agricultural exports.
Ukraine’s Fate Aligned with the US’s.
Iran and North Korea have enabled Russia’s war. A victory for Mr. Putin is a win for all these regimes. It would also upend the existing Western-led international order and inspire further acts of aggression. If a dictator’s attempt to change borders by force goes unpunished and he even leaves the war having gained territory, no country can feel secure in its borders. Threats brewing in the Middle East and Asia would likely worsen.
The West Faces Many Foes
Between managing relations in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa with rising global powers and persistent international threats, such as terrorism, we cannot afford to look enfeebled. A victorious Ukraine is crucial for breaking the alliance between Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
Mr. Tsahkna comforts readers that success in Ukraine will strengthen positions in other countries:
If the West fails and lets Ukraine slip away, we will still face the same list of challenges, but from a much weaker position.
Hand-wringing pundits are just wrong, accuses Estonia’s FM. Nearly one million people in Europe, with an economy at least 20 times that of Russia, have the upper hand over Moscow.
But the West’s efforts have been too slow and restricted. If Mr. Trump leads the way by speeding up and intensifying our efforts to help Ukraine to victory, he could negotiate a peace from a position of strength. This means ramping up sanctions and improving the implementation of existing ones. And foremost it means giving Ukraine everything it needs to fight the aggressor on the battlefield without restrictions.
The people of Ukraine have proved they can defend themselves. But now they need help ramping up sufficient military support. Lifting restrictions on how Ukraine can use the aid provided is needed.
The message to Mr. Putin must be loud and clear: It is impossible for him to meet his aims on the battlefield. He will have to turn to an agreement.
Victor Davis Hanson warns in American Greatness how Europe is mentally worn out by the war. Europe is increasingly reneging on its boastful, unqualified support for Ukraine.
Europe’s hope writes Mr. Hanson, is that Donald Trump is so threatened that the President can both end the hated war and then be blamed for ending it without an unconditional victor in Ukraine.
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