When President Donald Trump returned to the White House on January 20, 2025, he brought about major changes in U.S. foreign policy. The Biden Administration viewed U.S. relations with Europe and Canada as crucial from a national security standpoint; Trump, in contrast, clashed with Canada over Prime Minister Mark Carney's insistence that America's northern neighbor will never become "the 51st state" and with European members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) over his push to make Greenland, a longtime Danish colony, part of the U.S.
Optimists are hoping that after Trump's second term ends on January 20, 2029, the U.S. will repair its relationships with Canada and Europe. But Never Trump conservative David French, in a January 22 opinion column for the New York Times, laments that a "rupture" has occurred in U.S. relations with longtime allies — and he is pessimistic about the damage being repaired in the future.
French argues, "There will be more twists and turns, highs and lows, but I'm afraid it's time to recognize a sad reality — it's over…. The American-led alliance of democracies is in the midst of a rupture. We have broken faith with our allies, and our allies are choosing resistance over submission to Trump's aggression and greed."
French notes that during the 2026 World Economic Forum (WEF), now being held in Davos, Switzerland, tensions between Trump and longtime allies from Canada and Europe are impossible to miss. And the conservative columnist points out that Carney himself used the word "rupture" during the event.
"To enthusiastic applause in Davos," French observes, "(Carney) articulated a vision of how the 'middle powers' — nations like Canada — should respond to the great powers. It is decidedly not according to Trump's plan. First, Carney spoke the plain truth. 'For decades,' Carney said, 'countries like Canada prospered under what we called the rules-based international order. We joined its institutions, we praised its principles, we benefited from its predictability. And because of that, we could pursue values-based foreign policies under its protection'…. Even an imperfect system had profound benefits — as long as America remained both strong and virtuous."
French continues, "'American hegemony, in particular,' (Carney) said, 'helped provide public goods: open sea lanes, a stable financial system, collective security and support for frameworks for resolving disputes.' That all appears to be over. We're not in a state of transition, but rather, one of 'rupture.' That's Carney's word for it, and he's right."
To make matters worse, French warns, the United States' "vaunted checks and balances are failing" as Republicans in Congress refuse to challenge Trump's "demonstrably irrational" actions with longtime allies.
"Impeachment and conviction are off the table," French observes. "There is no chance that Trump's cabinet of sycophants would invoke the 25th Amendment. Congress is led by invertebrates — with many of them apparently convinced that he'll subjugate the world in much the same way that he subjugated them, through threats, bluster and the unyielding support of millions in the MAGA mob…. On Tuesday, (January 20), Mark Carney called Donald Trump's bluff. Trump wants subjects, but he's getting rivals, and the American people will pay the price. "
David French's full New York Times column is available at this link (subscription required).
