Trump’s Wild Ride: From wrenched Allies to a Warm-Hearted Kim Hang‑out
On June 13, 2018, French Foreign Minister Jean‑Yves Le Drian fired back at President Donald Trump for what he calls a “destabilising” juggle of diplomacy. Trump – a man who can’t seem to keep any alliance on a straight line – slipped from a snappy showdown with the G7 to giving the North Korean king a big hug, all in a span of 24 hours. The move has sent Europe’s top diplomat spooked, and he’s unambiguous in calling it a danger to multilateral peace.
From G7 Drama to North Korean‑Style Side‑Kick
- G7 brawl:
At the summit in Quebec, Trump launched a headline‑making rant at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, labeling him “dishonest and weak.” He blasted the gathering for “farce” after a torrid clash over tariffs. - Smooth swing to the Camp:
The very next day, Trump tackled a three‑hour proposition with Kim Jong Un. Even after denouncing nuclear proliferation, the North Korean leader eponymously called for long‑term disarmament. Trump walked into the moment as if he was “re‑connecting” with Sweden‑style allies… but the reality was a mouth‑watering, grim, thawing of hands with a hot‑headed dictator.
At the heart of the fuss? Le Drian hasn’t been shy about calling Trump’s “Get‑away‑with‑a‑dictator” approach akin to a “progressive dismantlement” of the post‑war multilateral framework that still salvages peace. In a nutshell, “America is building a fortress of power and abandoning the allies that once gave it a sense of shared purpose.”
“What’s in the ∀-Date of Tomor‑™ ?”
Le Drian’s Three‑Tone Strategy:
- Questioning the “promise”: He’s skeptical that Kim’s vow to clear the Korean Peninsula of nuclear threats is real‑deals. The French minister notes how the father of Kim had already broached denuclearisation in the past, but nothing ever materialised.
- “Something Good, But Let’s Keep It Urgently True”:
He’s waving his hands for the news this is “good” yet urges officials to stick to an “irreversible and verifiable” principle to ensure it sticks. - Risk Assessment: He warns that the “period of uncertainty and risk” might end up with an American doing “a tough block” on the world stage.
Wrapping It Up
On the face of it, Trump’s diplomatic journey portrays a concrete example of why some officials worry that multilateral systems no longer feel solid. The French minister’s emotional frustration leaves us with a picture of a world on a knife’s edge— ready for a win if the pledges are true, or a pitfall if the elite reach for their own wars.
