Can the world still trust America? | Martin Wolf on the US midterms | FT

The health of American democracy and its global implications hinge on the outcome of upcoming US elections, which threaten to further destabilize international alliances. Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Anne Applebaum argues that the current US administration’s radical, anti-institutional approach encourages illiberal movements worldwide, from Europe to Latin America. This shift toward extreme, polarized politics weakens the US as a dependable partner, forcing European nations to pursue strategic autonomy in technology and defense. Ensuring a Ukrainian victory remains the critical prerequisite for European stability, as the collapse of Ukraine would trigger a massive refugee crisis and necessitate a drastic increase in European military spending. Ultimately, the global rise of authoritarian-leaning tactics requires democratic nations to distinguish between legitimate policy debates, such as immigration, and the systemic dismantling of democratic checks and balances.