Western leaders have long been told to view the US as their reliable ally and partner in international relations. However, since Donald Trump's presidency, it seems many of these countries are now willing to function without the United States.
The phrase "to live in truth" has become a rallying cry among Western leaders, echoing Czech dissident Vaclav Havel's call for honesty about the state of the world. They're no longer pretending that the US is always there to support them or that the old Western alliance still exists.
Several key figures have spoken out against Trump's actions, saying they're not willing to play a role in his game of global intimidation. Canada's Mark Carney, who gave a widely praised speech at Davos this week, stated that he and other liberal middle powers are "living in truth" – refusing to pretend the US is always there for them.
Carney also criticized Trump's use of tariffs as a means of pressuring his allies, saying it's not a new tactic but one that's become more evident. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen added that they're now facing a world where "raw power" rules and that Europe needs to find its own way.
Some countries have made their feelings clear on the matter. French President Emmanuel Macron said that the US is trying to weaken and subordinate Europe, while Finnish President Alexander Stubb believes liberal Europe is being squeezed by the US because it no longer sees them as important in Washington's hierarchy.
But there are still some leaders who aren't willing to challenge Trump directly – like Keir Starmer, the leader of the UK's Labour party. However, those close to him say he's starting to see the benefits of building alliances with other middle powers and is exploring ways to work more closely with Europe.
Starmer's allies believe that opening talks on a closer defence alliance with Europe could be key – particularly if it involves access to the European defence industry. They're saying that many European countries now share a common diagnosis about Trump's values-based realism and see the need for them to work together more than ever before.
It's a significant shift in how Western leaders view their relationship with the US, and one that could have major implications for global politics.
The phrase "to live in truth" has become a rallying cry among Western leaders, echoing Czech dissident Vaclav Havel's call for honesty about the state of the world. They're no longer pretending that the US is always there to support them or that the old Western alliance still exists.
Several key figures have spoken out against Trump's actions, saying they're not willing to play a role in his game of global intimidation. Canada's Mark Carney, who gave a widely praised speech at Davos this week, stated that he and other liberal middle powers are "living in truth" – refusing to pretend the US is always there for them.
Carney also criticized Trump's use of tariffs as a means of pressuring his allies, saying it's not a new tactic but one that's become more evident. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen added that they're now facing a world where "raw power" rules and that Europe needs to find its own way.
Some countries have made their feelings clear on the matter. French President Emmanuel Macron said that the US is trying to weaken and subordinate Europe, while Finnish President Alexander Stubb believes liberal Europe is being squeezed by the US because it no longer sees them as important in Washington's hierarchy.
But there are still some leaders who aren't willing to challenge Trump directly – like Keir Starmer, the leader of the UK's Labour party. However, those close to him say he's starting to see the benefits of building alliances with other middle powers and is exploring ways to work more closely with Europe.
Starmer's allies believe that opening talks on a closer defence alliance with Europe could be key – particularly if it involves access to the European defence industry. They're saying that many European countries now share a common diagnosis about Trump's values-based realism and see the need for them to work together more than ever before.
It's a significant shift in how Western leaders view their relationship with the US, and one that could have major implications for global politics.
but I still think it's a bit too early to write them off as done deals. I mean, they've been saying that for ages about china and russia, but have they actually followed through on it? let's see what happens before we start celebrating 
. btw, I'm not sure i agree with carney about the tariffs thing... can't he just say that the us is being unreasonable instead of going all diplomatic 
... but at the same time, I get why they're feeling that way. Trump's been super unpredictable and has made some really weird decisions as a leader. I mean, who uses tariffs to bully their allies? That's not diplomacy, that's just plain old-fashioned bullying.
... like, okay, sure, but aren't you kinda missing out on the whole "US as your rock" vibe? 
I guess that's a bit of an exaggeration, but you get my point.
... just hope they don't end up creating some new kind of global power vacuum 
they're finally being real about the US not always having their backs. I mean, we've known it was a fragile friendship all along 
but now it's like they're saying "bye, Felicia" 
to that old alliance.
. And let's be real, Trump's policies were a big fat slap in the face 
.
maybe this is the start of something beautiful? I'd love to see more UK-EU defense talks – it could be the key to strengthening ties and creating a more balanced world order 
.
. No more relying on the US to save the day; it's time for them to step up and lead 
This is crazy! I mean, I've seen some shifts in international relations before, but this is like a whole new level 
. It's all about those middle powers like Canada, Europe, and Finland stepping up and saying "hey, we don't need the US to save us anymore" 
. I'm loving the vibe of Carney's speech at Davos - it's all about being real about the world we live in and not pretending everything is fine when it's not 
. What do you guys think? Should the US be worried about losing its grip on global politics? 
... it seems like all these countries are just gonna sit back and let Trump do whatever he wants without pushing back. Canada's got their economic interests covered, Europe's got its own thing going on now... what about the rest of us? It's like they're abandoning ship because Trump's making them uncomfortable 
. And don't even get me started on Macron - he's just gonna cry about it like a baby because someone's trying to undermine his "great" European Union 
. I mean, can't anyone see that this is just Trump playing the game of global politics and they're all just too scared to say no? 
...
. His presidency has been marked by a lack of diplomacy and a tendency to provoke, rather than collaborate. The concept of "living in truth" resonates with me, as it highlights the need for Western leaders to be honest about their relationships and not pretend that everything is okay when it's not 
.
and i get why mark carney is saying what he's saying - those tariffs from trump are super unfair 
but at the same time, europe has gotta step up its game too 
saying that the us is trying to weaken europe... like, i feel him 
.
It's like they say: when life gives you lemons, make lemonade... and if life gives you a trade war, find a new partner 
.
. Trump's presidency has shown us that the US isn't always there to save the day. And yeah, some countries are totally done pretending like everything is okay between them and the US 
. The US has been playing a pretty big role on the world stage, but if countries start going it alone, that's definitely gonna be something to watch 
.
. But, I gotta give it to Keir Starmer - he's not afraid to explore new alliances with Europe 
. Building alliances with other middle powers could be a good move for them, though – who knows, maybe they'll learn from the Europeans 
. The big question is what this means for global politics 
️
. French President Macron is right on that too, though - Trump's been trying to break Europe apart for ages 
, it's time to fly solo or form new alliances 
anyway i think its kinda refreshing to hear western countries be like "hey us is not always there for us" you know? like we can't rely on them 24/7 like they're the only game in town. and yeah canada's mark carney seems right he called out trump's tariffs thing and was all about living truthfully about it i mean its not new, but now it feels more real than ever... also french president emmanuel macron saying that us is trying to weaken europe is pretty on point too 
. But Starmer's exploring a closer defence alliance with Europe? That's like, the future right there 
! We need to work together, folks! 
, can't deny it no more! We been sleepwalking into a world where US is just another country to them 
. Mark Carney and Ursula von der Leyen are leading the charge 
. Macron's all like "US trying to weaken Europe" 
, but I'm more worried about us being complacent 
. Starmer's finally waking up 
, thinking about building those alliances with Europe