Who are the real friends of the American people? Not trade partners. Not legacy allies. Not vague references to a global community. But real, loyal partners—nations whose governments align with our interests, respect our sovereignty, and act in good faith. It’s time we stop accepting alliances based on history or convenience and start examining relationships based on reality.
This is not a judgment of foreign populations. It’s a judgment of foreign governments. The American people generally don’t hate others—they’re generous, curious, and friendly. But our goodwill has been abused by foreign rulers who act in ways that are either indifferent to, or outright hostile toward, the values and interests of average Americans.
Start with Canada. Our northern neighbor has changed. The current Canadian government no longer shares a common philosophical foundation with the United States. It leans authoritarian, has warmed to China, and its policies reflect a socialist model that the American public largely rejects. Worse, Canada has become a conduit for smuggling, including synthetic drugs with links to Chinese manufacturers. That’s not friendship. That’s opportunism.
Move south to Mexico. We cannot honestly call Mexico a friend. Their government has tolerated—and in some cases encouraged—mass illegal migration across our border. That wave has brought not just workers but criminals, chaos, and tragedy. Worse, Mexican leadership has openly supported these movements, including actions in our cities that involved violence, destruction, and lawlessness. A friend doesn’t do that. A friend doesn’t look the other way while cartels run death routes northward.
What about Europe? The United Kingdom is our so-called special partner. But aside from diplomatic ceremony, what exactly have they done for us recently? Most of Europe is engulfed in bureaucratic decay, migration crises, and socialist stagnation. Their priorities aren’t ours. Their struggles are mostly internal. The dream of a united Western alliance has faded. The exception may be Albania—a small, often-overlooked nation that has been consistently respectful, cooperative, and stable in its relationship with the U.S. Perhaps it’s time we reward loyalty, no matter how obscure.
Africa? Realistically, no government there currently holds values aligned with ours in any consistent or actionable way. That may change, but as it stands, we have more obligations than opportunities on that continent.
In Central and South America, the situation is uneven. Costa Rica attracts American tourists and remains relatively stable, but political loyalty is weak. Panama and Colombia are entangled in financial opacity and drug logistics. If the U.S. were serious about ending the drug epidemic, it would require diplomatic leverage—public, not covert—on these states. Meanwhile, Uruguay is a positive exception: functional governance, relative peace, and potential for growth. That’s where investment should go. In contrast, countries like Ecuador remain overrun by crime and corruption. The U.S. should not treat them as equals at the table until they meet minimum standards of governance and lawfulness.
Asia is the real fulcrum of the future. China is an adversary. Not a rival, not a competitor—an adversary. It has made clear its ambitions, and they run counter to every American interest. Yet not all Communist countries are enemies. Vietnam, while authoritarian, has shown restraint and neutrality. The same could be said for Singapore and Macau, despite their complex ties to Beijing. But the decisive issue is Taiwan. Taiwan is not just a strategic ally; it is the last vestige of China’s legitimate cultural heritage. And that is precisely why Beijing wants to crush it. If a global war emerges, it will start—not in Ukraine, not in Gaza—but in the West Philippine Sea.
So where does this leave us?
It leaves us with a new question: what should define an ally?
The answer: shared values, reliable cooperation, and actual acts of friendship. Not ceremonies. Not trade deals that benefit corporations. Not handshakes at summits. If a country’s government is sending weapons, money, criminals, or propaganda against us—they are not a friend. If they undermine our security, ignore our laws, or enable our enemies—they are not a friend.
We need a new doctrine: fewer illusions, fewer entanglements, more clarity. Every country that wants to be considered a friend of the American people must show it. Not once, but consistently. Until then, let’s call them what they are: trade partners, competitors, or threats. Nothing more.
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