Another similarity. Gorbachev sought to undermine the communist hardliners that made up the vassals state governments like East Germany and Czechoslovakia because they were ideologically aligned with his domestic opponents. This ultimately led to their collapse... JD Vance's Munich speech signaled much the same intent. Our European vassals are aligned with the Democratic Party elite which embodies the old consensus now... and the Trump administration views their support and alignment to his domestic rivals to be more of a threat than the former rival, Russia.
FWIW, I think there's a danger in overreading Trump. I don't believe he has a grand strategy. He seems to want to set up the Oval Office this time like he set up his business office: pretend you're powerful so others pay homage, negotiate deals, spin bad deals as fantastic, keep everyone legally on their back foot, don't pay bills, deal only with powerful (in his mind) peers, run scams, delay civil lawsuits, stay out of jail, play golf. What does he believe? Tariffs? For. Death penalty? For. Puerto Rican immigrants? Against. It feels like the White House is being run like a small family real estate business from 1975.
In 1989 the future looked so bright I needed shades. (Sigh)
Another similarity. Gorbachev sought to undermine the communist hardliners that made up the vassals state governments like East Germany and Czechoslovakia because they were ideologically aligned with his domestic opponents. This ultimately led to their collapse... JD Vance's Munich speech signaled much the same intent. Our European vassals are aligned with the Democratic Party elite which embodies the old consensus now... and the Trump administration views their support and alignment to his domestic rivals to be more of a threat than the former rival, Russia.
Impressive bit
FWIW, I think there's a danger in overreading Trump. I don't believe he has a grand strategy. He seems to want to set up the Oval Office this time like he set up his business office: pretend you're powerful so others pay homage, negotiate deals, spin bad deals as fantastic, keep everyone legally on their back foot, don't pay bills, deal only with powerful (in his mind) peers, run scams, delay civil lawsuits, stay out of jail, play golf. What does he believe? Tariffs? For. Death penalty? For. Puerto Rican immigrants? Against. It feels like the White House is being run like a small family real estate business from 1975.