As the world marks Trump’s one month at work, I want African leaders to learn something: power and positioning are transient. Under Biden, European leaders were falling over themselves, talking and shouting on Ukraine this, Ukraine that, projecting bravado of strength. Then Trump came, providing them the opportunities to follow through on their bombastic promises to Ukraine, but suddenly, Europe loses its arrows.
Did you notice that none is speaking these days? That the US is working with Russia to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war without even coordinating with Europe would have been an abomination under Biden. But with Trump on the seat, Europe is frozen and has lost its mojo. Talk and get some nice tariffs! (I did not vote for Trump and his style is not my preference.)
And here is my message to African leaders: do not believe those vapour promises, because every decent country is looking out for its own people, when it matters. As Europe re-calibrates to ensure it does not annoy Trump, throwing Ukraine under the bus if necessary, you should understand that when it matters, none cares about you. And that means, do not allow any country or global leader to use you to pursue its policy objective because positioning can change.
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Remember Kwame Nkrumah’s words: no west, no east, just forward.
Simply, do not align with Russia to hurt Europe/US or align with Europe/US to hurt Russia or China or anyone. But align with yourself to move FORWARD with the whole world.
To Sudanese who are destroying their nation supported by foreign powers, shame to those doing this. Those funding the destruction do not like you; they’re only interested in how destroying you helps them. But when they realize that is not paying, they will move on.
I am stunned at how European leaders cannot speak for Ukraine anymore despite propelling once a great nation to take a poison pill with its bigger neighbour.
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Comment: Not necessarily that Europe has lost its voice…Europe is likely weighing its options and building its ‘coalition of the willing’ before saying or doing anything. Unlike Trump who ‘shoots first’ as we can see from his going back on a number of tariff threats. This is likely going to be a marathon, not a sprint…
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Not every country has the luxury of non alignment anyway, because either position could as well be interpreted as doing either of superpowers’ bidding. The thing about Ukraine war is that, those who have been talking can neither win the war for Ukraine nor bring peace. So, why does Europe think its voice matters at now when some high octane, pragmatic negotiation is about to take place? The pace is even too frenetic for the slow Europe to catch up, Trump doesn’t have such time, he’s not a bureaucrat.
Zelensky is busy talking all over the place, as though he decides anything. The same US who backed him to stretch the war for 3 years now wants to bring it to an end. If he thinks his opinion matters a great deal, then it means he’s been overestimating his relevance. He will have to agree with whatever terms the US agrees with Russia, it’s a big boys’ deal, above his pay grade.
Europe will have to audition really hard to be part of the conversation, else it will be left in the cold to whine all day long. Those who decide things want to talk, the rest can either wait for the outcome or keep sobbing. As for Africa, we have neither economic nor military power to bring to the table. When you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will.