A tougher President

When Donald Trump came to office, there were fears that this unorthodox populist would be an isolationist. Yesterday’s speech in Warsaw, however, was Reaganite in its internationalism. The President spoke about Poland’s long struggle for freedom, praised Nato’s commitment to mutual defence, condemned the use of chemical weapons and, most significantly, called on Russia to cease destabilising Ukraine and giving support to Syria and Iran.

Saying all of this in Poland sends the right message. Russian revanchism has left Eastern Europe nervous. Barack Obama abandoned the region in favour of diplomatic engagement in the Pacific – and when Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, challenged him on the subject, Mr Obama joked that the Cold War wanted its foreign policy back. Two years later, Ukraine was split in two by a Russian-backed insurgency. But would Mr Trump be any tougher on Moscow? There were good reasons to fear not: on the campaign trail he questioned the utility of Nato and seemed to find things to praise in Vladimir Putin. What a relief, then, to hear him robustly stand up for Western interests.

Today Mr Trump will have his first face-to-face meeting with Mr Putin. Such dialogue is important: no one wants conflict. But Russia has clearly felt emboldened by American strategic retreat under the Democrats and stands accused even of interference in US elections. This cannot be tolerated. The West looks to the United States, with its unparalleled military strength, for leadership. There must be no concession on the fundamental right of free peoples to national self-determination.