Trump's big strategic misconception in withholding $255M in aid from Pakistan: They like it, but they're not dependent on it. Sure, it's a lot of money to the Trump organization. But it's 0.08% of Pakistan's GDP ($284B). And 2.9% of Pakistan's annual military budget ($8.7B).
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US-Pakistan relationship is complicated. But they're fighting some of the same organizations along Af-Pak border. As with so much of Trump's foreign policy, pulling back from Pakistan creates an opening for China. That comes from ignorance, not intention. But result's the same.
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Millions might buy one US politician, but not a whole country. What it gets is access, influence, and intelligence sharing. The important question is not whether Pakistan does everything the US wants (of course they don't), it's whether the US benefits from the aid (it does).
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Follow up: Pakistan's foreign minister says his country won't be treated like America's "whipping boy." Maybe this blows over and Pakistan acquiesces to Trump's (not well specified) demands. More likely, it does lasting damage to the relationship.https://www.wsj.com/articles/pakistan-says-alliance-with-u-s-is-over-1515155860 …
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Replying to @NGrossman81
And I wouldn't be surprised to see the Chinese step in to fill the gap.
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Me neither
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