Sir, – Karl Martin, (Letters, March 27th) would appear to be confused as to the causes of and outcomes to (a) the conflict in Ukraine and (b) the US/Israeli assault on Iran when he asks “how can [Michael] McDowell and other members of the Irish commentarial criticise Donald Trump for not fully supporting Ukraine when Europe is refusing to assist the US in keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for international shipping?”
First, Ukraine, an independent sovereign nation, was invaded by a militant neighbour intent upon expansion. Ukraine, following guarantees from the US and Europe, had surrendered its nuclear deterrent which seems to have mistakenly persuaded Russia’s president Vladimir Putin that the country was “up for grabs”.
Kyiv is entitled to receive assistance from the US and Europe of whatever nature is needed to repulse the Russian invader – something I quite understand Trump does not understand.
Second. The Strait of Hormuz was open, had been for some time, and would have remained so, had Trump, along with Israel, not launched an unprovoked attack on Iran. A military analyst of three weeks’ standing would have forecast that the Iranians would retaliate by closing the Strait – something I quite understand Trump did not.
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Another thing Trump does not seem to understand is that cultivating friendships and alliances is not best conducted by insulting your erstwhile allies, by imposing arbitrary tariffs on them, threatening to seize their territory and interfering in national elections by supporting candidates whose primary aim is to destroy the European Union, a body you may or may not like, but which has delivered enduring peace to Europe for the longest period in its entire history.
These are just a few of the things Trump does not understand. I hope I have cleared up a little of the confusion. – Yours, etc,
LIAM STENSON,
Galway.
