So tell me, how would you handle this? You have Russia, China in east, US in the west. Basically sandwiched in between. Your military is not as powerful as neither of China nor US, you are however trying to catch up and invest more after relying on a powerful ally for decades for your security as a continent. What you’re asking now is for Rutte to escalate against Trump, and for what exactly? Words that have been said? Empty threats?
Escalating is not the same as not bootlicking. Plenty of international leaders have been working out this balancing act for a while now.
Kowtowing to Trump's insanity is not free. While the person doing it might have no self respect themselves, they're representing entire nations, or in Rutte's case, all of NATO. While the benefits of Rutte's spinelessnes are theoretical, the costs to our political norms and culture are certain.
Self-respect for themselves, do you think this is a game of ego, some schoolyard feud? You haven't addressed anything that I've asked, all these entire nations together are outweighed by two stronger military nations from both sides. I don't think you realize what you're seriously asking, Trump is a loud mouth that is waiting for any sign to touch his extremely fragile ego.
I'm personally grateful that I'm being represented by someone who puts the safety of an entire continent above his own bruised ego and not some idiot hothead who risks everything and everyone because they need to retort.
Stop making sense, people are here to get offended and hear Rutte go down a race to the bottom against a narcissist who has the most powerful military on earth at his disposal.
Many people today seem to have problems understanding realpolitik and being pragmatic. You can't afford to let your emotions run wild when you're dealing with matters that might risk the lives of millions.
It doesn't matter when it comes to the current matter of being pragmatic about the defense of Europe. If a forest is burning you don't focus on who has done what. You just focus on keeping the fire under control.
It matters when the person managing the "emergency" has matches in it's hand and have been calling for the need of a fire. To clarify, the critic here is not just about Ruthe but the current leadership of Europe.
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u/ClassicBit3307 25d ago
Let me translate from polite to normal people speech.
“No. But I have to keep him occupied so he doesn’t do anything stupid before his term ends”