More than a few pundits have noted the ironic similarity of this week’s Munich conference between leaders of the European Union and JD Vance of the US, and the Munich conference of 1938. In 1938, Hitler, Neville Chamberlain, PM of Britain, Édouard Daladier of France and Mussolini decided the fate of the then Czechoslovakian state, without representation from the Czech people. A few days ago we watched JD Vance give European leaders a dressing down, telling them their countries were not true democracies because they try to prevent such undemocratic takeovers as we have witnessed in the US. The purpose of the meeting never arose: Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Instead, Trump’s lapboy, Vance told the European leaders that the US and Russia would sort out a peace agreement without European input, and most particularly without Ukraine.
The 1938 Munich conference has been called history’s biggest appeasement debacle. Although Chamberlain returned to Britain waving the agreement signed by Hitler and proclaiming « peace in our time », it was soon consigned the scrap heap of history by Hitler and Stalin’s non-aggression pact, whereby their two countries could gobble up their neighbour, Poland, without a by your leave. This too swiftly ended up on the scrap heap as Hitler invaded Poland and Russia (albeit 20 months later). The invasion of Poland began World War Two in Europe. The peace guaranteed by the Munich agreement hadn’t even lasted a year.
And now Hitler and Stalin, in the persons of Putin and Trump, prepare to meet again in Saudi Arabia to discuss the fate of Ukraine, without of course, input from Ukraine. These will ostensibly be « peace talks » but Trump has already let slip that he wants Ukrainian mineral resources for the US. So is it about « peace » or the division of Ukraine for Russian/American gain? Munich 1938 was about who got what in the name of a short-lived peace. Trump has also made it known that he would like to annex (read: invade) Greenland and Canada as their mineral wealth would benefit US interests (read: Trump’s billionaire friends).
Whatever comes from the US/Russia talks, one thing is certain. American expansionism (Manifest Destiny II) is on the move, just as it is in Russia and China. Under Trump (who has no friends), America’s allies and friends are being treated as potential enemies. The world order has experienced a seismic shift and the world is now a much more dangerous place.
JACK N. LAWSON - author • speaker • trainer 