Trump and NATO: Lessons from Ancient Greece

Last updated on: June 2, 2017 at 8:44 pm by Gary A.

Trump and NATO: Lessons from Ancient Greece 2017-06-02T20:44:20+00:00 Gary A.

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The President of the United States or a wide-mouthed tree frog? You decide. Image obtained through Creative Commons.

The demise of an alliance in Ancient Greece warns of the dangers of angering our partners in NATO.

The headlines were withering. “Trump’s Trip Was a Catastrophe,” The Atlantic declared; “Trump’s behavior at NATO is a national embarrassment,” proclaimed the Washington Post; “President Trump Fails NATO,” the New York Times lamented.

The behavior that spurred these headlines was painfully visible on May 25 as President Donald Trump attended a summit meeting of the NATO alliance in Brussels. NATO, a collective defense organization originally organized to resist Soviet expansionism, has been a critical pillar of American foreign policy since the 1940s, and Trump was expected to champion its strength and resiliency.

Unfortunately, he did anything but.

Where to start? First, spectators watched in horror as Trump manhandled the prime minister of the newest NATO member, Montenegro, and then puffed out his chest like an orangutan in rut:

Then, the public engaged in a face-palm heard ‘round the world as Trump lectured NATO members on “paying” nonexistent dues to the organization:

Next, we all performed a collective eye-roll as Trump attempted to tear French President Emanuel Macron’s arm from his body:

Finally, we all sighed in exasperation as Trump failed to do the one thing that he needed to do – assure our NATO allies of our commitment to defend them if attacked:

President Trump refused to endorse Article 5, which states that an attack on any NATO member is an attack on all https://t.co/42McntHdll

— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 25, 2017

All in all, Trump engaged in truly boorish behavior during the meeting, basically “giving the finger” to our crucial European allies. And while Trump might think that his behavior was a projection of strength, showing the world that America means business, he would do well to learn from the failures of Ancient Athens by apologizing for his actions at the NATO summit and adopting a more conciliatory tone with NATO members in the future.

In the 5th century B.C.E., a collection of Greek city-states formed an alliance called the Delian League. Assembled to confront threats to both Greece and its colonies in Asia Minor, the League pooled the resources of as many as 330 Greek principalities to assemble a military capable of withstanding the massive armies of the Achaemenid Empire (also known as the Persians). History shows that this partnership served its purpose – after the devastating Persian invasions of the 490s and 480s, the League deterred the Achaemenids from further efforts to subjugate the Hellenic peoples.

But while the Delian League guaranteed Greece freedom from the Persian yoke, the manner in which it was run would lay the groundwork for future conflict. Although a union of supposedly co-equal city-states, the League was unquestionably “ruled” by the city of Athens, which boasted the largest navy of any of its peers. As time wore on, Athens began to see itself less as an altruistic protector of Greek independence and more as a self-interested hegemon seeking dominance over its less powerful neighbors. This view manifested itself in Athens bullying the other members of the League, treating them as vassal states rather than as independent city-states.

Athens’s bullying would come back to haunt it. Whereas League members had been content to follow Athens leadership when it played the role of benevolent overlord, as Athens began to treat the alliance as a sort of protection racket, city-states began to balk at its leadership. Some sought to withdraw from the League, while others, when Athens faced threats from the rival city-state of Sparta, failed to come to the aide of their “ally” and revolted against its leadership. In the end, when Athens’s mighty fleet was destroyed and ruthless Spartan forces stood outside its famous Long Walls, Athens had few friends it could turn to in its hour of need – it was forced to capitulate to Sparta.

Given the sobering history of the Delian League, Trump would do well to rethink his approach to the trans-Atlantic alliance. While Europe has largely been happy with NATO over the past 70 years (with some notable exceptions), if Trump continues humiliating its leaders and acting like some sort of Nero-esque emperor, the European public may soon start to sour on America. Such discontent could manifest itself in new European leaders who might be reticent in coming to America’s aid in future conflicts. In the long run, European resentment at Trump’s imperious behavior could even lead to the end of NATO.

NATO occupies an essential place in America’s foreign policy, but, as with the Delian League, domineering behavior from its preeminent member (the United States) could lead to its dissolution. In an increasingly dangerous and chaotic world, America needs all the friends it can get. To ensure that NATO members stay happy with the trans-Atlantic alliance, Trump should apologize for his juvenile behavior at the NATO summit and adopt a more cautious, humble tone in future interactions with NATO members. Otherwise, the fate of Ancient Athens may one day be shared by 21st-century America.

Mormonism, politics, Romney

Previous Post

May 26, 2017

America Needs Mitt Romney

Next Post

June 15, 2017 Confederate Symbols and the Black Flag of ISIS: Two Sides of the Same Coin

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category American society Art baptism Blogging Book of Mormon Book review Brigham Young Brigham Young University Bundy Catholicism Christianity Communalism Community of Christ conferences conversion correlation Culture denominations Digital History Discipline Councils diversity Doctrine Donald Trump education Emma Smith ethics family feminism fiction Film review food French Polynesia Fundamentalism Gay rights Gender global Gun politics Halloween health History Honor Code hymns Joseph Smith Kirtland Temple law of consecration massacre site military Ministering missionary moderate Mormon feminism Modern Mormonism Mormon origins Mormon War Mormonism Mormonism, politics, Romney Obama Peace politics Polygamy Pope Francis Poverty Prayer Priesthood Protestantism Race Religious freedom Revelation Reviews sacred sites Scientology Scripture Secularization See Stones sexual assault Star Wars television temples Tithing Utah violence war women's ordination

Select a Month October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 October 2017 September 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 November 2016 October 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I was a scribe skilled in the Law, and I set my heart to study, practice, and teach it. Who am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Solomon Ezra Samuel Nehemiah