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I was assured that foreigners hate Donald Trump, that his election would weaken America and cause us to lose standing in the world, that he is likely in the pocket of Putin and is more or less a traitor. But the Telegraph sees it differently: “Trump’s appointments have electrified the West.”

Donald Trump’s impending arrival at the White House is not only having a seismic impact on American politics. It is also creating dramatic changes to the global landscape, especially regarding the conduct of hostile states that will soon find themselves in the new administration’s cross hairs.

Russia, China, Iran and North Korea are among those that have cause to be concerned about the impact the more robust approach adopted by the incoming Trump administration will have on their fortunes.
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The appointment of Pete Hegseth, a high-profile military veteran and Fox News presenter, as Trump’s next defence secretary will certainly concentrate a few minds in places like Moscow and Tehran. A hawk on both Russia and Iran, Hegseth has been a vocal critic of the Biden administration’s half-hearted support for Ukraine, and previously called on Trump during his first stint in the White House to launch direct military action against the ayatollahs.

Similarly, Senator Marco Rubio, who is being lined up to become secretary of state, has little appetite for compromise when dealing with America’s foes, arguing against a ceasefire in Gaza on the grounds that Israel should “destroy every element of Hamas they can get their hands on”, an approach that stands in stark contrast to the Biden administration’s continuing pursuit of a ceasefire-for-hostages deal.

On Gaza, my sentiments exactly.

Add to this Trump’s appointment of John Ratcliffe, who is convinced that Covid originated from a Chinese research laboratory…

Isn’t everyone?

…as CIA Director, and Mike Waltz, another renowned China hawk, as national security advisor, and it is clear that, with the equally hawkish J D Vance set to become vice president, Washington’s foes will mess with the next Trump administration at their peril.

Music to our ears. And it isn’t only our enemies who are taking stock of the new administration:

Nor is this radical change in behaviour confined to Washington’s foes. This week’s suggestion that the European Commission is looking to change its spending policies to allow greater investment in the bloc’s defence and security could prove vital to providing European nations with the wherewithal to protect their interests.

This long-overdue move, which could see tens of billions of euros redirected to fund Europe’s defence needs, is a belated acknowledgement that, with Trump back in power, European nations can no longer rely on Washington to defend them.
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Trump’s imminent return to the White House may be a cause of consternation for America’s foes. But it should also serve as a warning that his new administration will expect all Washington’s allies to pay their fair share towards the defence of the free world.

The Telegraph’s subhed reads, “Europe is scrambling to pay its way before January.” What is there about all of this not to like?