The traditional “West” as a political concept has always had two pillars: North America and Europe. But if the United States and the EU end up at loggerheads during the Trump years, the “Western alliance” will be in profound trouble. Trump, as an advocate of “America First,” might not worry about antagonizing Europe. But the demise of the Western alliance would actually gravely undermine Trump’s plans to restore American greatness, since it would decrease the power of the United States to shape world affairs. In so doing, it would also hasten the shift of wealth and power to Asia that so
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