Trump Wont hesitate to flex muscle - cmd countries get that

Foreign policy is about securing vital national interests, and not about face or values.

- Lin Suling

To understand the implications of President-elect Donald Trump's victory for the world, and the best strategies employed by the most adaptive countries worth emulating, look no further than Ukraine.

Engaged in a hot war with Russia for close to three years, Ukrainian leaders know US support is vital for their national survival.

Tellingly, when Trump's win became apparent, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rushed to congratulate him on his "impressive election victory" and praised his "peace through strength" campaign slogan as being "exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine".

The country has also been working hard behind the scenes putting together a "victory plan" for the incoming Trump administration, which includes potential business deals, sharing of natural resources with Western partners and replacing US troops stationed in Europe with Ukrainian forces after the war. Leaving aside the question of their feasibility, Mr Zelensky met Trump in September to present these plans, which apparently piqued his interest.

GET REAL Kyiv's Machiavellian approach comes amid a barrage of commentary over the past year suggesting Ukraine would be hit hardest if Trump won. Much of this narrative was shaped by an incumbent Democratic Party's campaign strategy, focused on stoking fear that Trump would sell out the Ukrainians in a heartbeat.

But with a clear-headed understanding that Trump in his last term would not want to appear weak, Ukraine ignored the noise. This was a man who reversed Barack Obama's ban to sell them anti-tank Iavelin missiles and train their troops. And so they focused instead on pulling out all the stops to safeguard their interests - by appealing to the incoming US president's own agenda.