When trade routes bypass Washington
Have you noticed this diplomatic ballet? On Thursday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer landed in China for a four-day visit, accompanied by a massive trade delegation. He’s not alone: in December and January, French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had already made the trip to Beijing. And that’s not all: on Monday, the European Union finalized a historic free trade agreement with India.
The message is clear: international trade no longer passes through the White House. Why? Because Donald Trump’s ongoing trade war has finally worn everyone out. His « mood swings, » threats, and outbursts have prompted his long-standing partners to look elsewhere. Keir Starmer summed it up simply on his way to Asia: « What happens abroad has repercussions on our countries: from supermarket prices to our sense of security. » It’s a topsy-turvy world: while the United States is perceived as unstable, even dangerous, China—despite being a dictatorship in the midst of an internal purge—is regaining its role as a pole of stability. It’s ironic, isn’t it?
Davos and the Greenland affair: how to make Trump bend to your will
The turning point was in Davos. That’s where the « resistance » began to emerge. Remember: Donald Trump wanted to annex Greenland and wrest it from Denmark. In the end, he backed down. But why? We have the answer.
First, there was widespread opposition. Then there was the reality on the ground: a conquest by force would have meant physically confronting French or German soldiers. A symbolic break that was unthinkable. Add to that the stock markets, which began to sway dangerously in the face of American obstinacy. Finally, diplomacy played its part: Mark Rutte, the NATO secretary, proposed a somewhat vague alternative plan for US bases, which allowed Trump to say « yes » and save face. In Davos, the tone changed. Mark Carney called on the middle powers to unite. Emmanuel Macron was scathing: « We prefer respect to thugs, science to conspiracy theories, the rule of law to brutality. » Donald Trump was not named, but everyone understood.
From Eastern Europe to Brazil: the end of fear
What is fascinating is to see who is joining this rebellion. China started the ball rolling in the spring of 2025, retaliating with tariffs and blocking rare earth exports, forcing Washington into a truce. Then Brazil followed suit: in September 2025, when former President Bolsonaro was sentenced to prison for attempting a coup, Trump threatened to impose 50% tariffs. President Lula did not blink, playing the soybean card and the rivalry with Beijing, and Trump, once again, backed down. But the surprise comes from Europe. Long divided and timid (we remember the humiliating trade agreement signed by Ursula von der Leyen in July 2025 with one-sided tariffs), the Old Continent is waking up. Even America’s most loyal allies are changing their tune. On January 20, 2026, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk made this meaningful statement: « Appeasement is always a sign of weakness […] Europe cannot afford weakness. »
Even more surprising: the European far right is distancing itself. Bart De Wever in Belgium, Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella in France, and Alice Weidel in Germany have all opposed Trump on Greenland. For these nationalists, sovereignty is sacred. As De Wever said: « Being a happy vassal is one thing, being an unhappy slave is another. »
According to the source: ici.radio-canada.ca
Created by humans, assisted by AI.