Jun

21

The Pax Americana is changing – substantially

I want to bring this model to the attention of the readers of this site-– because it helps (me) understand many of the recent geopolitical events and the markets by extension.The model is as follows:

America is the most benevolent empire the world has ever seen–but an empire it is.

What changes now, is that this empire wants less from the world–than the world wants from the US and less than the US wanted from the world in the past.

The main reasons for this are good US demographics, US energy independence (shale), superior geography, the winning of the cold war and a dominant navy–by far.

If you are a country leader today and you want something from the emperor–you better bring gifts.

This is a substantial change. Previously the US gave the gifts (economical gifts and gifts as security guaranties ).

The Chinese in Xi Jinping and Japan do understand this – both currently compete for the love of Trump (and the love of America) and both bring gifts. China just pressured NK's Kim into submission and has probably stopped to oppose a Korean unification. Japan brought lot's of FDI.

(A brief excursion: This is a result of Trump's policy of maximum pressure It also shows Trump is well informed, active and not a fool regarding Korea. "Maximum pressure" most likely also includes some juicy stuff - like allowing NK to steal attack plans, exaggerating Warmbier, using MOABs nearby and high level defections )

Russia in Putin understands this. Putin is a player. He plays a weak hand excellently– as Russia always has.

Israel understands this. Besides many other things–this is why they are schmoozing up to Russia and KSA.

UK understands this. They bring two super carrier.

I thought France in Macron understands this–but after the G7 I am not sure.

Germany in anyone does not understand this change. (Lots to say here, but I am currently enjoying meine Schadenfreude about this.)

Canada in Trudeau does not understand this–though the eyebrow might know and left . Canada and Mexico are special cases, because they are hard-wired into America' s economy.

One can go around the globe and watch how players act against this new reality of America's shift.

What is great about Trump is: a) He is a tweeting Tom–his tweets make geopolitics nicely transparent b) He acts according to the model (consciously and unconsciously).

(The above is heavily influenced by a series of texts by Peter Zeihan - I Think They Get It Now, Part I).

Stefan Jovanovich comments: 

The U.S. is no more benevolent than any other empire run by popular election. Like the Athenians and the English and the Republican Romans, we have always let majority self-interest define the morality of our decisions. The dominance of our Navy is as fragile as the superiority of the British was after World War 1. Our aircraft carriers are now as technologically and financially obsolete as Jackie Fisher's battle cruisers were ib 1919. But for the German decision to commit their limited shipyard capacities to the building of turret armed battleships and cruisers instead of submarines and carriers, "the Allies" would have lost the Battle of the Atlantic. The Chinese seem to be making the same mistake by putting their efforts into carrier battle groups instead of stealthy drone/sea to sea missile platforms. The British should know better; for the cost of these 2 Mary Rose show projects, they and the Germans could have developed silent running submarines that would dominate the sea lanes from the Gulf of Arabia to the Baltic and Arctic Circle.

None of this has any relation to Trump's cleverness about shifting tax burdens from U.S. wage earners to American corporate importers of goods and foreign workers. That is, as P R notes, truly brilliant political economic thinking as apt for the U.S at this time as Lord Salisbury's were for Britain after the disasters of the previous perverse reformer (Gladstone then, Obama now).

The Admiral (actually a retired Navy Captain who shares David's cursed condition of being a lifelong Orioles fan) tells me I am half wet about the Germans in WW 2. Submarines–yes, aircraft carriers– never. Land-based 4 engine bombers were a far better choice.


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1 Comment so far

  1. Anonymous on June 22, 2018 3:53 pm

    America is a corrupt and lonely place where every one is willing to stab you in the back with a grin on their face

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