Trump's European Misadventure

President Donald Trump's first appearances at the NATO and Group of Seven summits were a disservice to the U.S. and the world. He betrayed no interest in maintaining America's standing as the pre-eminent global leader, much less any aptitude for that task. The president is rattling the Western alliance in a way that can only delight its adversaries -- Russia most of all.

Trump's fundamental error is to treat allies as though they were adversaries. He frames the full spectrum of international relations -- military cooperation, international trade, action on the environment, you name it -- as a zero-sum game. This is both dumb and profoundly toxic. Smart diplomacy recognizes the opportunity for mutual advantage; in the intellectual vacuum of Trump's world order, there is only, "You lose, we win."