They really found the most efficient way to reduce every dependency the rest of the world had on the US. When the US will finally wake up, there will be nothing left but countries ready to sell their better technology to the US and maybe not even sell it in dollars.
They are burning the "cards" and "leverage" they had. The trust Europe, West and other democratic countries had in US will take generations to rebuild. And meantime US provoking other countries to ally against itself to punish this behavior. That's just game theory. It makes strategic sense for all other countries to co operate against the US now. Personally, I'm looking forward now for Europe to become self-reliant on technology.
I believe the image of the US in the West started changing considerably during Trump's first mandate. Biden coming back hasn't completely repaired that change, but really it mostly came back (as in, "The US screwed up with Trump, but that's done now").
I think the 6 weeks of this second mandate have already made irreparable damage. When during the first mandate people tended to be "fed up with the US bullshit", now they are genuinely scared. Trump was not a one-off mistake. The people not only confirmed it, but seems generally okay with what's happening now; some Americans complain, but mostly when they are personally affected, it seems. It doesn't seem like the US people is shocked by the idea of destabilising the West. Not saying it is the case, but that is how it seems.
The trust is gone, I don't think it will come back. To the West, the US are partners, not friends anymore. It's still better than enemies, even though the US has been considering it... seemingly with the support of the people.
> Personally, I'm looking forward now for Europe to become self-reliant on technology.
Yeah, in a way, if Europe managed to be independent militarily, that would bring some stability. Let's hope they go there!
