Two men have marked the international news of 2024: Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. Sometimes for the better, but almost always for the worse.
Putin did this through his war in Ukraine, his alliance with North Korea, the strengthening of his alliance with China or his inability to support Syria.
Russia's terrible war of expansion against Ukraine continues to produce atrocious suffering for Ukrainians and Russians. It forces NATO countries to rearm.
And Putin continues to flood the world with his boring propaganda about the supposed Nazism of the Ukrainian government or about Ukraine's entry into NATO before 2014. In fact, Putin fears the democratization of Ukraine.
Colossal sums
The sums of money swallowed up by the war in Ukraine have lowered the standard of living of Russians. And that's without counting more than a million dead or injured on both sides in this conflict.
Because of Putin, NATO countries must now consider military spending that will increase their heavy debts, likely at the cost of diminishing the services they provide to their populations. Results: these spending and cuts will increase popular discontent and favor the election of extremist governments.
Putin also distinguished himself by concluding a defense treaty with North Korea, a state relegated to the ban of nations, due to its nuclear program, its violations of human rights and drug trafficking, false coins or weapons in which he engages.
As for China, it is salivating at the weakening of the Russian economy and all the business opportunities that are opening up to it, thanks to Putin.
Trump s’illustre
Trump managed to get re-elected president, despite his status as a criminal, deep-seated narcissist and sexual predator.
Even before his swearing in, he managed to surround himself with people, many of whom stand out for their crass incompetence.
Trump has also appointed people to key positions who appear to be in the pay of China: first and foremost Elon Musk. To the point where the United States military air forces refused to grant him high accreditation which would have given him access to military secrets.
Some welcome Trump's migration policies as well as his desire to reduce the size of the federal government to lower taxes. In reality, the measures announced by Trump are more of a rampage than of rationalization.
But above all, the arrival of Trump and his isolationist and hostile declarations to several traditional allies of the United States are forcing them to redefine their trade and security ties. Talk to Justin Trudeau. Conversely, without Trump's support, Benjamin Netanyahu probably would not have gone this far.
Yes, really, 2024 would have been a better year without Putin and without Trump.
