America’s Future Is Being Sacrificed for Short-Term “Wins”

By Ian Bremmer – Project Syndicate

Most countries are prepared to give Trump wins (some pyrrhic, some significant) to avoid open conflict. But the same countries are also working to ensure that they never find themselves in this position again. The EU has finalized trade agreements with Mercosur, Mexico, and Indonesia. Brazil is deepening economic ties with Europe, China, and Canada. India is working to stabilize relations with China while accelerating infrastructure projects that reduce its dependence on US markets. And Saudi Arabia has signed a nuclear deal with Pakistan to hedge against future security neglect from Washington.

Having learned the hard way that US policy can change course every election cycle, these countries are pursuing alternatives now while accommodating America in the short run. And because these hedges require huge amounts of political capital, years of investment, and a new institutional architecture, they will be hard to reverse once built.