The Demise Of Diplomacy: Causes And Global Implications

Welcome to Married at First Sight on the global stage.

I hear the talk: “It’s awful to watch”. “The behaviour is just too dreadful”. And who would have thought these would be comments about world politics viewed in the international media?

To summarise, imagine the family Christmas dinner, where all the home truths are being exposed. After a few drinks, the highly charged younger sibling is calling forth some ugly realities and the upright oldest son is patronising him, while dad tells them all that he will make the decisions. And if, you think this metaphor is unnecessary listen to Trump bring everything to ‘javelins and sheets’ and who has the ‘cards’.

This was very unusual, so what was it that happened.

It began with JD Vance presenting himself as a seriously unlikeable sycophant. His presence was unnecessary, inflammatory and outweighed a weaker opponent on foreign land. Like a catalyst, he lit the fuse with his incessant need for a “Thank you” and the show began.

Outnumbered by Trump and Vance, Zelenskyy, speaking in what is, at best, his third language,  began to explain the situation from his perspective.

Unusual nitpicking ensued. In the flow of conversation, Zelenskyy used the word ‘feelings’, and Trump drilled down. This was a hot spot as Trump has been managing America’s ‘feelings’ for some time. It is a common argument strategy to pick out one single word and dwell on it. This was Trump’s opportunity to grab a misdirection from the actual dispute at play the “You don’t tell us how we feel” card. Trump must be seen to be ‘in control’, spruiking ‘confidence’ and negating all worry and complexity.

Fascinating was that not one of them became overtly aggressive in their posture, gestures or facial expression. Zelenskyy folded his arms briefly in response to Vance, but dropped them as the conversation turned to Trump. It showed Zelenskyy’s disrespect for Vance, a person who Zelenskyy thought had no understanding and certainly showed no skills of diplomacy. There was a mention of yelling, but actually the voices remained within normal range.

When it came to power, however, Trump has the techniques. He tells us he is the one who ‘allowed this to go on”. He berates Zelenskyy as “spoken enough,” and he threatens Zelenskyy that he is starting WWIII. His voice booms, but Trump can do this without any significant throat tension, which would delegate it as shouting. Listen to Trump and Zelenskyy speaking at the same time, and find yourself gravitating toward Trump’s voice. The man has a power that is so difficult to override. He booms.

Despite this, Zelenskyy kept driving. “You will see insolence”, he repeated, and we got it.

Like watching a strong boxer I am waiting to see who can beat Trump in his rhetoric,  strange metaphors and physical and vocal power. It is the power that overwhelms in the moment that is so fascinating and also so dangerous if it is not for the right reasons.

Fortunately, the European leaders are not swayed, but unfortunately, the American public is.

Vance is left repeating  “Have you said sorry once?” and personally I would not have him in these sessions ever again. It not only did not help, it was Vance who inflamed the whole situation.

Zelenskyy is a thorn in America’s side, whose clear motivation is to achieve their own goals, not his. Vance is an unnecessary catalyst. Trump is a bully, while the European leaders today call for a new international leader.

Do you think we will ever see this kind of raw fight again in the media. The bar has been lowered, that’s for sure.  Do you think Trump and Putin would have a go? I’d pay for that.

Be tuned for the next episode.

My rating is:

Trump: 10/10 for constant power

Zelenskyy: 10/10 for staying power under such pressure and holding his ground

Diplomacy: 0/10

Let me hear your thoughts.