Arne O. Holm says Finally, a Dream Summer in the North
Kamala Harris provides hope for more good summers in the North. (Photo: the White House)
Commentary: What a summer we have had in the North. President Joe Biden realized he was unfit as a presidential candidate and sent Kamala Harris in his place. That could have great significance to the Arctic and the High North.
But let me start with the caveats and the most important thing first.
Donald Trump could still win the election and thereby allow Russia to attack a NATO country, to pull out one of many absurd and disturbing scenarios with Trump back in the presidential chair.
A loser's arguments
However, his arguments, if one can call the insults that he uses against Kamala Harris that, are like spit out of a loser's mouth. In a situation where Joe Biden's age and cognitive abilities could rightfully resonate with a majority of Americans going to the polls, Trump is revealing his lack of strategic abilities when he uses skin color, gender, and race as arguments against Harris.
A great deal of Americans will still vote for Trump and thus reveal that their demand for freedom for the individual is a hollow and empty one. No one with a genuine desire for freedom would vote for a president who continuously praises dictators.
The US is still in charge
Moving on from that caveat, there is an almost more serious one to consider. Yes, the problem of Trump, of the "weird" Trump, which the Democrats have chosen as their mode of attack, is severe enough, bordering morbid.
The other serious matter
The other serious matter involves Europe, Ukraine, the High North, and those who live near the border with Russia, and how we will still be subject to US defense and security policy.
It is bordering political submission to give Donald Trump the sole honor of NATO increasing its defense budget. Russia's war against Ukraine was the decisive matter – a growing understanding following the annexation of Crimea in 2014, which ended in military investments no one could have envisioned before the full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The increased investments have been followed by an American presence in the North, which entails both a surrender of national sovereignty and predictability in security policy.
This is true also if Kamala Harris wins.
Institutions, legal systems, and dialogue
The US is always most important
Thus, a new element of uncertainty appears. So far, Donald Trump has refused to answer any questions on whether he will accept an electoral defeat.
Considering these caveats, it will still constitute a formidable difference for the High North if Kamala Harris takes over as the US president.
For the US, the US will always be most important. However, with Kamala Harris at the lead, institutions, legal systems, and dialogue will be revived as a political alternative to narcissism, isolationism, and notorious lying and cheating.
The summer in the North has been nice and promising.
