Italy Gives Trump the Cold Shoulder
Peter Zeihan
6 min
The United States is in the Western Hemisphere, and most of its military operations are in the Eastern Hemisphere. So we now have Italy and Spain and France and the United Kingdom that are giving the United States a cold shoulder in any number of ways.
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Donald Trump
Chapters
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0:00
The End of the American Alliance with Europe
The breakdown of the US alliance with European nations, specifically Italy, due to public criticism and disregard for allies in military operations. The US is ignoring normal logistical chains by not consulting allies, leading to a collapse in its ability to project power outside home waters.
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2:08
The Impact of Religious Claims
Claims of being a friend of Jesus or the second coming have caused significant backlash, particularly in Italy, leading to a break in alliances. Actions have shattered the moral fabric of the alliance, causing Italy, Spain, France, and the UK to give the US a cold shoulder.
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4:47
The Collapse of Naval Capability
A collapse in the ability to function outside home waters due to the lack of allied logistical support.
Key points
- 0:00
The United States is in the Western Hemisphere, and most of its military operations are in the Eastern Hemisphere.
- 0:00
The United States has always operated beyond its shores hand in glove with some allies until this one.
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The Trump administration is publicly considering removing itself from NATO because the Allies have been useless.
- 2:08
Italy has gone from being in somewhat lockstep with foreign policies to basically breaking away from the United States.
- 2:08
Italy has stopped shipping weapons or providing logistical support to Israel.
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The alliance is now over for all intents and purposes.
- 2:08
Italy, Spain, France, and the United Kingdom are giving the United States a cold shoulder in any number of ways.
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If Germany goes, that is the entirety of the American ability to project power to the Middle East.
- 4:47
The United States now has a collapse in its ability to function outside of home waters.
- 4:47
This will resonate in American and global strategic thinking for decades to come.
Who and where
People · 1
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Donald Trump 8
President of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025)
Photo 1
1. Photo: Daniel Torok, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons · Wikidata · redrawn in our house style (Donald Trump)
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