What Foreign Diplomats Say About US Politics Behind Closed Doors
What Foreign Diplomats Say About US Politics Behind Closed Doors
Ambassadors to Washington warn that the GOP-Democratic divide is endangering America’s national security.
Ambassadors to Washington warn that the GOP-Democratic divide is endangering America’s national security.
When I asked the European ambassador to talk to me about America’s deepening partisan divide, I expected a polite brushoff at best. Foreign diplomats are usually loath to discuss domestic U.S. politics.
Instead, the ambassador unloaded for an hour, warning that America’s poisonous politics are hurting its security, its economy, its friends and its standing as a pillar of democracy and global stability.
The U.S. is a “fat buffalo trying to take a nap” as hungry wolves approach, the envoy mused. “I can hear those Champagne bottle corks popping in Moscow — like it’s Christmas every fucking day.”
As voters cast ballots in the Iowa caucuses Monday, many in the United States see this year’s presidential election as a test of American democracy. But, in a series of conversations with a dozen current and former diplomats, I sensed that to many of our friends abroad, the U.S. is already failing that test.
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The whole world feels like losing a big brother to the agony of drug addiction, forced to watch all the stupid decisions that impact millions of lives across the globe.
It's such a hurtful thing, as someone who experienced the optimism of the nineties, when the cold war appeared to be over. It's been downwards from there, through Bush all the way up to Trump.
Get well big bro. Pull through, pls.
The whole world feels like losing a big brother to the agony of drug addiction, forced to watch all the stupid decisions that impact millions of lives across the globe.
No that's just the west. There's a large portion of the globe that is fine to see US decay and they're not wrong to feel that way. Decades of global bullying, undermining democracies, letting corporations rape and pollute their countries, and proxy wars have left little sympathy for the US.
This is a chickens coming home to roost moment
Does the world really want a world where Putin is the undisputed heavyweight champion?
Russia is a has been. It'll never be important again.
People said exactly the same thing after the Communist Party fell.
And they were mostly right. People thought Russia was a big deal because of their military. Turns out they are swinging way below expectations. Their economy was too reliant on fossil fuel exports and now countries are making them irrelevant.
Maybe we're in a time where the rest of the world doesn't want a country as the singular global authority?
And your plan is...?
What you'd like, and what you'll get a two different things.
It's not about what I'd like I'm just going off current trends. Countries are abandoning the dollar and forming coalitions with neighboring countries due to covid and the fatigue of being beholden to the US. The fact that a US election has that much influence over other countries is problematic in general.
Imagine a presidential election is Bulgaria having this much influence over your government and thinking that's fine.
If you're speaking specifically about BRICS, they can't even agree upon being in a coalition together without dick measuring. Good luck trying to replace the dollar when the countries trying to do so can't agree on which currency to replace it with. Let alone fighting over who should be in "charge."
Maybe in twenty years things will be different. Right now, if America steps back, Putin steps up. I'm not trying to say that's the best thing, I'm looking at what is.
It's not about America stepping back or Russia and China stepping forward. It's other countries learning that they should rely more on themselves and their immediate neighbors instead of foreign governments
That's kind of what the UN was supposed to do.
It's hilarious to me how every wonk in the US keeps warning everyone of Russian propaganda, and then unironically thinks Putin is powerful enough to fill a power vacum the size of the US of A.
Serious question.
Say the US actually breaks up into ten smaller nations. How do you see it playing out?
That's... a wild question, and would depend heavily on where the lines were, and what exactly "breaks up" means. But however it happens, if the dollar-based system is to go down, the only actors I see capable of taking it's place are China and maybe the EU. The only lever Russia has left in this regard is BRICS.
Ah yes, because a world dictated by Russia or China is a much better alternative.
If you think the only country stopping Russia from taking over the world is America, your opinions are about 50 years outdated lol.
Except that's not at all what I said.
I mean it is for many people. Russia and China aren't really the global imperialism types.
That's fucking hilarious. I.e. see Ukraine and Taiwan.
I mean yeah those aren't global.
Lmfao. What the fuck is that even supposed to mean?
It's idiotic speak
I meant: They try to expand their borders. That's also really bad. But they don't have much interest in land or resources half a world away.
So, your argument is that it's okay to be a little imperialistic? Even though you were shitting on the US for...being imperialistic. Lol
But they don't have much interest in land or resources half a world away.
Sudan and Djibouti would like a word with you.
So, your argument is that it’s okay to be a little imperialistic?
Nope. It was that some people would have it better if the US were to be superseded by China as the global power. Of course many others would have it worse, mainly Europeans and Asians, but that doesn't mean nobody would have it better.
You're not making any sense.
You've proved with that comment that you don't really know what you're talking about. Belt and Road initiative?
Okay I'm usually not the biggest fan of China but the Belt and Road initiative doesn't seem very imperialistic to me. At least nothing close to what the West has been doing for the past 70 years after colonialism had supposedly ended.
I mean it is for many people. Russia and China aren’t really the global imperialism types.
Literally posted 2 hours ago:
South China Sea? Ask Filipino fishermen what they think about China "not being imperialistic".
No that’s just the west. There’s a large portion of the globe that is fine to see US decay and they’re not wrong to feel that way. Decades of global bullying, undermining democracies, letting corporations rape and pollute their countries, and proxy wars have left little sympathy for the US.
This is an insane claim that's simply not backed up by evidence. Pro-US sentiment remains widespread in the world, despite the claims and desires of self-hating Westerners.
These findings come from a new Pew Research Center survey conducted from Feb. 20 to May 22, 2023, among 27,285 people in 23 countries, many of which are key U.S. allies
23 countries made up mainly of US allies is not the whole world.....
Also no one is saying the whole world hates the US but the idea that the majority of the world feels sorry for what's happening in the US is nonsense
23 countries made up mainly of US allies is not the whole world…
https://www.iseas.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/The-State-of-SEA-2021-v2.pdf
Decades of global bullying, undermining democracies, letting corporations rape and pollute their countries, and proxy wars have left little sympathy for the US.
The USA has things to answer for as far as interfering with other nations based upon our (or our corporation's) interests.
However, I'd caution the enthusiasm about the downfall of the USA. I'm betting you'll find the alternatives worse.
The USA has made mistakes but I doubt the alternate reality where China, Russia or India were the only super power would be better.
The problem is the alternative is worse, prime example Russia in Sudan.
I mean Sudan is in a horrible situation in Sudan, but let's not forget that ISIS was funded by the CIA. The US has its fair share of skeletons in its closet.