>>> Earthquakes Expose Venezuela's Decay as Chavez-Era Housing Crumbles
Flattery from Mark Rutte also played a role, as the NATO head frequently praised Trump for encouraging European nations to raise defense spending.
Georgetown University professor Charles Kupchan noted that Rutte successfully demonstrated to Trump that his pressure on European allies was working.
"Rutte is really doing a good job of trying to say to Trump, ‘Hey, it’s working. We’re becoming more capable allies.
We hear you,’" Kupchan said.
Trump's altered stance on Zelenskyy, whom he previously told "You don't hold the cards," may stem from disappointment with Vladimir Putin.
Lesser noted that pressure from the US Congress ahead of the midterm elections also likely influenced the president's shifting strategy.
Despite the lighter finale, experts believe Trump's rhetoric will leave a lasting impact on how European allies view US reliability.
Kupchan argued that NATO remains functionally intact, with 80,000 US troops stationed across Europe.
Future projections suggest NATO will become increasingly Europe-led as partners work toward spending 5% of their GDP on defense.
Kupchan concluded that Trump is a symptom of a broader collapse in the American political center and foreign policy continuity.
>>> Solbakken Claims Camera Cable Interference Before Bellingham Goal in World Cup Loss
International leaders from countries like Germany and Japan must now plan for potential long-term political dysfunction within the United States.
