EU's Ostracized Member Seeking Reconnection through Blue-tinted Lens
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Flattering a pompous ego or letting them strut around like a peacock might just be the key to dealing with the narcissistic Donald Trump. Keep them in a state of euphoria, making them feel like they're the superior one in every situation until their grandeur turns into a laughing stock. Yet, that's exactly what seems to work with Trump - he squashes the "incompetent leftists" of the American press and the "loser Democrats." Some leaders, like Emmanuel Macron, have found success in this method, keeping the bully at bay by stroking his ego and reinforcing his delusional sense of superiority.
So, at the recent NATO summit held on June 24 and 25, Trump stormed in, late for a royal dinner hosted by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands. The royal couple played itsmart, offering Trump the head table and treating him to an elaborate smorgasbord, ensuring he was showered with lavish attention, or at least, as much as a man like Trump allowed.
Experience has shown that diplomatic accommodation, judicious acknowledgement, and a focus on shared common goals have proven to be a successful method for engaging and addressing this mercurial leader. In essence, world leaders use tact, offer kudos where due, and channel Trump's aggressive style into tangible results, like increasing defense spending commitments from European allies.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, among others, openly commended Trump for pushing European allies to elevate their defense spending targets from the previous 2% of GDP to a historic 5%. This win-win situation allowed Trump to revel in his victory while reinforcing alliances and bolstering their strength.
Throughout the discussions, leaders continued to highlight Trump's crucial role in brokering a cease-fire between Iran and Israel, thereby fostering a sense of cooperation and collaboration. By redirecting attention towards achievements accomplished under Trump, leaders managed to create a more constructive environment.
In public addresses, Trump proudly boasted about the colossal leap forward made by NATO in terms of defense spending and billed it as a monumental achievement, largely thanks to his own efforts. In doing so, Trump was likely encouraged to maintain his engagement and support from other world leaders, while strengthening his political narrative in the process.
In summary, leaders managed to navigate Trump's disruptive personality by employing respectful diplomatic protocol, explicit recognition of his achievements, and steering discussions towards shared security goals. This delicate dance enabled cooperation and progress despite Trump's unpredictable antics[1][3][4].
The recent NATO summit, held on June 24 and 25, saw world leaders employing a strategic method to engage with the mercurial Donald Trump. Mark Rutte, among others, openly commended Trump for pushing European allies to elevate their defense spending targets, creating a more constructive environment. Simultaneously, leaders pointed out Trump's role in brokering a cease-fire between Iran and Israel, highlighting his accomplishments in the realm of war-and-conflicts. By doing so, they managed to foster a sense of cooperation and collaboration, using politics as a tool to address the complexities of war-and-conflicts and policy-and-legislation. The general-news media, following the summit, highlighted this delicate dance between diplomacy and ego-stroking as a significant migration towards a more balanced engagement with the American president, capturing political scoops from Thomas Legrand and other top commentators.
