Britain Must Secure Its Own Defence as Trump's America Can No Longer Be Trusted as an Ally
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/simonjenkins. "Wake up, Britain: Donald Trump’s US is no friend of ours. We must secure our own place in the world | Simon Jenkins | The Guardian." September 11, 2026. www.theguardian.com
The Gist
Simon Jenkins argues that Donald Trump is erratic, dishonest, and disrespectful toward Britain, and that America can no longer be counted on to defend Europe if Russia attacks. Because of this, he says Britain and its European allies need to wake up and start building their own independent defense capabilities rather than assuming the US will always have their back.
Conclusion
Britain (and Europe) must stop relying on the US security guarantee and start realistically securing their own defence and place in the world.
Premises
- Trump exhibits erratic, narcissistic, and mendacious behavior (exaggerating crowd sizes, claiming to have won three elections, making unfulfillable financial promises) that undermines confidence in his judgment.
- Trump has repeatedly flouted constitutional and legal norms domestically (declaring wars without congressional authorization, abusing emergency powers, attempting to redefine citizenship, pursuing voter suppression measures reminiscent of Jim Crow laws).
- Domestic checks on Trump's power (Congress, courts, cabinet) have proven weak or slow to constrain him.
- Trump has openly and sustained his abuse of Britain specifically, calling it 'weak' and 'on the edge of disaster,' and implying it is no longer America's greatest ally.
- The post-Cold War assumption that the US would automatically honor NATO's collective defense principle and go to war with Russia over Europe has become increasingly implausible and flimsy.
- A volatile, unconstrained leader like Trump cannot be relied upon to exercise the caution and dependability required in matters involving nuclear deterrence and collective security.
- The broader international order Britain has depended on ('no new world order') has effectively collapsed.
Assumptions
- Trump's personal character and behavior are a reliable indicator of broader US foreign policy direction and reliability as an ally.
- NATO's collective defense guarantee was already weakening before Trump and is not simply a temporary aberration tied to one administration.
- European nations have the capacity to build sufficient independent defense capabilities if they choose to pursue this course.
- The traditional Anglo-American 'special relationship' rhetoric no longer reflects operational reality.
- Domestic institutional dysfunction in the US necessarily translates into foreign policy unreliability.