If the threats of Donald Trump prove anything, it is that the mantra of “shared values” with his administration is as much use as a chocolate teapot. Countries across the world are scrambling to adjust. Canada has announced a trade realignment towards China – and talk grows of counter-sanctions in Europe. If the UK wants to avoid being caught in the crossfire, there really is only one alternative: to finally take the brakes off rebuilding our common future in Europe.

In the past few weeks, Nato has suffered life-changing injuries. This should not be surprising, given the repeated signals from Washington, from the anti-European screed in Trump’s National Security Strategy to the harassment of President Zelenskyy at the White House. When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time and act accordingly.

There is no easy solution – but, as ever, there are always ways to make a bad situation worse. Green party leader Zack Polanski, for example, demands we get ready to evict US bases from British soil, and says the UK should “ditch Trident – and fast.” He claims this could be done without undermining Ukraine or Nato, while still standing up to “Putin’s imperial ambitions”. But in reality, an emotional response to the US will do little to stop Trump dealing with Russia over the Ukrainians’ heads. Scrapping........

© The Guardian