It is difficult for Europe to admit outright that Trump's USA will not come to its aid

By Mika Horelli, BRUSSELS


Sensing the urgency, European leaders gathered in London over the weekend to discuss joint security policy. The resounding message was clear: Europe must take immediate and greater responsibility for its security. However, there is a growing realisation behind the scenes that the United States, under Donald Trump, may not come to Europe's aid in times of crisis. This sobering truth cannot be ignored, even if it's not said aloud for diplomatic reasons.


To put it even more bluntly, if Russia were to launch a direct attack on a NATO member today, the Trump administration would likely refuse to honour NATO's Article 5 defence commitment, refuse to assist, and instead blame the victim for the attack. While Trump has no authority as president to withdraw the U.S. from NATO unilaterally, he has enough power to paralyse the country's role within the military alliance.


It is unpleasant to write this, but Europe must finally recognise that the Kremlin likely has its own man in the White House. At the same time, especially NATO's neighbours of Russia and its Belarusian proxy must prepare for the fact that Moscow might see an opportunity that should be seized as soon as possible.


The question of whether Russia has compromising material on Donald Trump has been a persistent topic in media and intelligence circles since before his first presidency. The 35-page report compiled by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele in 2016 detailed allegations of long-term Russian support for Trump. One of the most controversial claims in the report was that the Russian government had spent at least five years cultivating Trump as a helpful ally and that the FSB possessed compromising material, including videos of Trump with prostitutes at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Moscow.


U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA, have reportedly considered it possible that the Kremlin holds such compromising material on Trump. Both the FBI and CIA have investigated claims that Russian money may have played a role in financing Trump's presidential campaign. The close relationship between Trump and Vladimir Putin has fueled suspicions, with former Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats openly questioning whether Putin was blackmailing Trump.


Trump has consistently denied all allegations, dismissing them as "fake news." This is hardly surprising from a man whose entire career is built on deception at all levels—business, family life, and politics.


Although speculation about blackmail has never been definitively proven, Trump's behaviour is textbook for someone operating under blackmail pressure. His consistent alignment with Putin raises serious questions about what leverage the Kremlin might have over him. Given Trump's history—including convictions for sexual and financial crimes—it is likely that Russia holds more than just scandalous videos. Moscow has probably financially bailed Trump out at some point, which could explain his financial entanglements with Russian entities. Trump, who is well-versed in money laundering and complex financial arrangements, would have had little difficulty concealing such transactions.


Now that Trump has placed his loyalists in charge of the Justice Department, the FBI, and other U.S. law enforcement agencies, it is unlikely that any incriminating evidence will ever come to light. As he tightens his grip on the legal system, any potential traces of Russian influence over him may be permanently erased. This scenario has far-reaching consequences not only for American democracy but also for transatlantic security.


Trump's recent statements only reinforce suspicions that the Kremlin dictates his decisions. Just this past weekend, he declared that the United States should focus primarily on its own domestic issues rather than countering Putin, which, in other words, means allowing Putin to do whatever he pleases. This shift in focus could have dire consequences for transatlantic security. Meanwhile, his Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, has reportedly prohibited any U.S. cyber operations against Russia. It is fair to ask: Who is genuinely allied with whom?


Europe possesses vastly greater economic resources than Russia to organise the continent's defence. The question is whether the political will exists to make it happen. The time for action is now short, very short. Europe must act quickly to secure its future.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Trump's "Peace" – History repeats itself in cruel ways

 By Mika Horelli, BRUSSELS Today, as NATO ministers gather here in Brussels, Europe watches in horror as the United States, under the guise of "peace," is prepared to concede to nearly all of Russia's demands—demands that have remained unchanged since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine almost three years ago. Millions of people have been driven from their homes, invaluable cultural heritage has been destroyed, and hundreds of thousands have lost their lives or health. And now, instead of holding Russia accountable for its actions, Donald Trump is rewarding its aggression. By giving Moscow what it failed to achieve through force, Trump is doing precisely what Vladimir Putin hoped for when he launched his attack. This is not peace—this is surrender. The greatest tragedy of this capitulation is that it will not end the suffering. Even if a truncated Ukraine were formally allowed to continue existing, its days would be numbered. Putin and his regime have...
Read more

What if Cars Were Invented Today?

By Mika Horelli, BRUSSELS –  If cars were introduced in the modern era, would we design a system where two-thirds of households owns one, sitting idle most of the time? This blog post explores how private car ownership has shaped our cities, economies, and daily lives—and questions whether smarter, shared mobility solutions in urban areas could offer a more sustainable way forward. If cars were invented today, it’s unlikely we would design a system where every household owns a vehicle that sits idle most of the time. Private car ownership has made us reliant on an expensive and inefficient mode of transportation that consumes vast amounts of space and resources. Could shared mobility and smarter transportation solutions offer a more sustainable path forward? Since the early 20th century, the car has been a symbol of modern life. It promised freedom, independence, and limitless possibilities—a personal four-wheeled oasis for every individual. But if we take a moment to consider the ...
Read more

The Rules of the World Have Not Changed – They No Longer Exist

By Mika Horelli, Brussels As a child, I spent many summers in the Vaasa archipelago on Finland’s west coast, at my grandmother’s summer house, where our family would gather to enjoy the season together. Playing cards was one of our favourite pastimes with my siblings, cousins  and me. There were many games, but one stood out: fusku , in English,  "cheat". The game idea was simple yet fascinating – the rules were constantly broken. However, the game’s defining feature was that everyone knew the rules were being broken and accepted it as part of the fun. The essence of fusku was competing to see who could cheat the most skillfully without getting caught. Now, decades later, as I follow world politics, we are in the midst of a global game of fusku. The only difference is that not everyone has yet realised that the rules are being broken—or is unwilling to admit it. Russia has turned rewriting history into a political weapon, using it to justify its president’s whims and ob...
Read more