this post was submitted on 26 Aug 2026
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Europe

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Our fight, it is no exaggeration to say, is the civilized world’s fight. It is a fight for reason and comity in the affairs of nations, against an administration whose worldview, and behaviour, is increasingly that of an aggressive dictatorship, in all its crudeness and its thuggery.

Mr. Trump, as the Prime Minister has said, aims to “break us,” a phrase with historic echoes. He has to now, or others will follow our lead. If he succeeds, then the world will be governed by nothing but force in the end, in trade as in other matters. But if we prevail, then “broad and sunlit uplands” must surely await.

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[–] Foni@piefed.zip 13 points 2 hours ago

I wish European politicians would finally find their balls and stop kissing Trump's boot every time he uses it to kick the continent, and instead follow Canada's lead.

[–] Frettchen@lemmy.world 7 points 2 hours ago

Maybe less watching more together!

He plays devide and conquer. Let's unite and resist!

[–] creamfresh@lemmy.world 0 points 1 hour ago

The whole world

the whole world: Brussels, NYC and an American in Korea

[–] ZkhqrD5o@lemmy.world 35 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

EU, Japan, now do the same. It is insane to submit to Trump's threats, he will always be back for more.

[–] greyscale@lemmy.grey.ooo 13 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

I can't stand how we still trade with them, let alone work with them.

I don't want to work with or finance terrorists.

[–] whoisearth@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

As I was telling my parents last night I don't think the average person understands how dire the most recent talks are.

I agree with you but that takes decades and realistically never match our trade with America. In the meantime many Canadians are going to lose their jobs with no hopes of another job on the horizon.

Canada needs a UBI yesterday.

[–] greyscale@lemmy.grey.ooo 1 points 1 minute ago

I'm european, we don't even have the proximity excuse.

[–] metermatic26@lemmy.world 10 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 52 minutes ago) (2 children)

I like the photo they chose to share along with the article. The look on Trump’s face is one I recognize. Its of someone faking a though attitude.

That’s the one thing people should learn about Trump. If you peel away his impulsivity, temper tantrums and complete incompetence at government, what you’re left with is a showman.

Trump is all about theatrics. The insults, the intimidation and the threats all mask the fact that he’s playing with an empty hand. The meeting with Xi, the war with Iran and now this spat with Carney, they all revealed his empty hand.

This is the beginning of the end for Trump’s foreign policy. Maybe even for Trump himself.

[–] CovertOperative@piefed.zip 6 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago) (1 children)

I never understand when people, including ones opposed to him, say Trump has charisma. Is a raging toddler charismatic? Do I just have a different definition of charisma than everyone else?

[–] Frettchen@lemmy.world 4 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

Oh he has told them how great they are and they fall for it.

[–] FistingEnthusiast@lemmy.world 1 points 1 hour ago

He told them that their hatred was righteous

Tell an ignorant simpleton that, and they'll love you forever, just so long as they can keep hating

[–] jdr@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 hours ago

Doesn't he only drink Diet Coke anyway?

[–] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 28 points 6 hours ago (3 children)

Contrast this with how other countries have responded to American threats. Japan, which relies on the U.S. for 3 per cent of its GDP, nevertheless agreed to a 15-per-cent baseline U.S. tariff – down from the 25-per-cent tariff it was facing otherwise – while committing to invest US$550-billion in the U.S., increase purchases of U.S. energy and agricultural products, and provide greater access for American cars.

The European Union, with an exposure to the U.S. similar to Japan’s and an economy two-thirds the size of the U.S.’s, likewise buckled, making a long list of concessions – no tariffs on U.S. industrial goods, wider access for U.S. agricultural products, and increased purchases of U.S. energy, AI chips, and defence equipment, in addition to US$600-billion in investment – “in return for” agreeing to U.S. tariffs of 15 per cent.

Been watching in dismay as this unfolded. Blatant betrayal of people's interests. I expected quite a bit more from the EU especially. I expected more than from our gov given how much more exposed and infiltrated we are.

[–] HuudaHarkiten@piefed.social 7 points 2 hours ago (2 children)

I would argue that, at the moment, Canada has more space for maneuver than Japan and the EU.

Japan has its own restrictions and is surrounded by sea on one side, china and russia on the other side with the Koreas in the middle with... complicated relationship.

The EU is (as much as I love it and hate to say it) a mess, with the economy being what is, the weather messing up harvests and shit, literal war like 7 meters away from the border and the very real threat of the war being 7 meters inside the border in the near future.

Both EU and Japan have to keep the toddler-in-chief happy, for now. Make no mistake, there is A LOT happening behind the scenes, at least in the EU, don't know about Japan. But can't afford to do anything major just now. The things that need to happen first take time to make happen. When they do, EU will have so much more options. And when that time comes, I'm afraid the US will be the ones standing alone, in complete shock, wondering what the hell happened.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love for the EU to start swinging right now. But that would have some major consequences, some predictable, some unforeseen.

[–] k0e3@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Japan is working hard to build more connections with other countries including Canada for trade but it's really hard for our government to disobey the "master" that is the USA for now. Like you said, our economy is highly dependent on them and so is our national security. As an Okinawan-Canadian, I could never fully trust the USA but the mainlanders just don't seem to give a shit.

Their military presence on the island where I live scares the shit out of me. What if Diaper Hitler just suddenly said, "fuck it Okinawa is ours now," and take over??

[–] HuudaHarkiten@piefed.social 3 points 1 hour ago

Yup. Its not easy to start making radical changes to relationships, when the other guy is sitting on your legs with a rifle.

[–] Auli@lemmy.ca -4 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

What bullshit they did nothing and well do nothing. Just like last time Canada took a stand against a country.

[–] qyron@sopuli.xyz 3 points 3 hours ago

To paraphrase Clarence Boddicker in Robocop: " Guns, guns, guns!"

The US has them and the cannon fodder to wield them, while Japan is saddled with a constitution that prevents military ramp-up, while Europe has been sleeping under the umbrella.

And I am not in favour in any way of nuclear escalation not military arming.

But these are the most obvious causes one can point at.

[–] BigShammy80@feddit.org 10 points 6 hours ago

Yeah, it hurts seeing how they buckle down to Trump... spineless bastards.

[–] MrSulu@lemmy.ml 6 points 5 hours ago

Europe, the UK, Asia, Africa and the rest of the planet need to just stop easing the USA with their destructive actions that affect Americans and the rest of the world.

[–] toiletobserver@lemmy.world 42 points 8 hours ago (1 children)
[–] pulsewidth@lemmy.world 14 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

And remember, keep yer stick on the ice.

[–] toiletobserver@lemmy.world 8 points 7 hours ago

Meanwhile, in the USA...

[–] farmgineer@nord.pub 26 points 8 hours ago (2 children)

I would love to see Canada being a part of the EEA and schengen. I don't know that it will happen, but more integration with Europe and less with the US would be good.

[–] goodguys9@lemmy.ca 8 points 6 hours ago

In particular as a Canadian, I would love to see membership in a mutual defense clause with the EU specifically, outside of NATO.

[–] BigShammy80@feddit.org 7 points 6 hours ago

As long as we (europe) tolerating Trumps stupid tarrifs and invest even more in the US and letting them sell their bullshit products here, they are better without europe.

[–] tired_n_bored@lemmy.world 8 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

He picks a fight with random countries every week. Bets are open for the next week.

It was China, then the EU, then Spain, then Greenland, then Iran, then Italy and now Canada

[–] ekZepp@lemmy.world 3 points 4 hours ago

Oh. I'm presure it won't be China. In case you missed they hold american economy by the balls now (( check the las oil crisis and why it didn't hit as hard as it should)).

[–] goodguys9@lemmy.ca 4 points 6 hours ago

Happy to see Carney make the right call. I worry that we will need to invest in missile defense systems soon...

[–] Snowclone@lemmy.world 16 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

I hope he chokes to death on maple syrup

[–] CobraChicken3000@lemmy.ca 28 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

The hell he will! He don't deserve our delicious tree nectar...how about runoff from tar sands?

[–] Jesus_666@lemmy.world 7 points 6 hours ago

He can choke to death on fully synthetic breakfast syrup. That matches his level of sophistication.

[–] lithiumground@lemmy.world 1 points 5 hours ago

trump's imperialist mindset.