In a dangerous & complex world, it’s not enough to be strong. You must also be #smart. As Secy of #State during the Obama admin, I argued for smart #power, integrating the hard power of our military w/the #SoftPower of our #diplomacy, development assistance, economic might & cultural #influence. None of those tools can do the job alone. Together, they make America a #superpower. The #Trump approach is #dumb power.

So, basically, Ukraine can produce an FPV weapon for the cost of one American egg?
#superpower
@MAKS23

Calls for #European #military strengthening are growing, and while building a domestic #arms industry would be ideal, the #us arms industry is unlikely to support such efforts, given how much Europe contributes to its business. The same applies to other key industries - without Europe, who would the #US trade with?

Ultimately, Europe must ignore the noise coming from the #trump administration and recognize its own economic #superpower status - and start acting accordingly on the global stage.

Never mind, Stent said, that #Russia lacks a #superpower #economy. “But it does have #NuclearWeapons, it has #oil & #gas & a veto on the #UN Security Council,” she said. “It’s just #power, hard power.”

At the time, the West immediately rejected #Putin’s …proposals as unthinkable. Putin is now almost certain to revive them in…negotiations w/ #Trump, a longtime skeptic of #NATO & #US troop presence in #Europe, prompting a crisis among European #allies, who are worried what Trump might concede.

…The events of the last few days, which have left #Ukraine feeling betrayed, US #allies alarmed, & even some Republican senators outraged, have renewed debate about #Trump’s motives….

Is the president being driven by personal animosity toward #Zelensky? Or contempt for a smaller nation in need, as he seeks to reorient #US #ForeignPolicy to promote a spheres of influence system controlled at #superpower summits by #strongmen like himself, #Putin & Chinese President #Xi Jinping?

Just about all of #Trump’s policies, both at home & abroad, are rapidly destroying the foundation of American #power. The main beneficiary will be the Chinese leader #Xi Jinping, who has been planning for the moment when Washington stumbles & allows #China to replace the #UnitedStates as the world’s #superpower.