Translated "Avante!" article by Albano Nunes, Member of the Secretariat of the CC

Undoubtedly, Donald Trump’s election places questions on eventual developments concerning the USA’s external policy. Practice ought to respond to this question, of some importance, given the ambitions of the main imperialist power and its direct involvement in conflicts and negotiable processes – the Aleppo decisive battle unto the so-called free-trade treaties, as TIIP – of great impact amid international relations. But, the president’s speech, the most controversial and delirious it ought to seem, the important changes amid the USA policy, do not depend on him, as , at the end, who decides is the great financial and speculative capital, Wall Street, and the powerful military-industrial complex, a handful of great North – American multinationals, that absorb the lion’s share of the surplus created throughout the world.

Within the framework of great instability and uncertainty, which reigns in the international situation, one cannot exclude difficulties and changes, namely concerning the great powers policy in consequence of the deepening of the capitalism structural crisis, the sharpening of inter-imperialist contradictions, real differences of opinion amid the dominant class on the way of handling the crisis and confront inevitable discontent explosions and popular revolt. All this ought to be present and considered à propos and inappropriately round Donald Trump ‘s election, along certain of his statements involving NATO and “Europe”, developing a heavy fear curtain and disorder, behind which is hindered the real intent of deepening more and more the European capitalist integration and its imperialist block nature, in articulation with its class options with the powerful ally (and rival), on the other side of the Atlantic.

The “ the Trump era world”, “ Trump threat”, “ populist wave “ is said to extend from Europe to the USA, and the stimulus that the Trump election ought to represent for the far-wing forces, in progress, within many European Union countries. But nothing is mentioned on the socioeconomic and ideological causes of the situation. Causes, that exist within the capitalism nature itself, situated precisely in exploitation policies, cuttings in labour and social rights, attack to fundamental freedoms and rights, democracy impoverishment, even in its liberal bourgeoisie version, oppression on national desires and feelings. The truth is that, by agitating on one side “ the terrorism threat” and on the other “ the Trump threat”, and crying crocodile tears, for the dangerous racism and fascism advance within Europe, the direction in conducting many opinion articles, is that it ought to reinforce the supra-national and militarist nature within the European Union, insisting on the reinforcing of the transatlantic relation and NATO, even presenting proposals of a brutal increase of armament expenses, as defended by Trump, during his electoral campaign. Regarding this issue, TS articles, in The Publico, are particularly interesting, together with Jorge Sampaio’s long article (in Publico, 2016.11.14), in which he “recognizes the deep crisis that rages in the Europe of the monopolies, and his concern with the “uncertainty” of the USA relations, ends up by defending “that “ the Europe of gold – the Euro 19 – is the real hard core of a reformed EU”, not resisting to the unlucky temptation of crashing the PCP patriotism with the reactionary nationalism, , “in an exercise of European militancy” he calls upon.

The answer to prophets of fear and disorder can only be one: proceed, with determination the struggle against fascism and war, enlightening on the real causes, work to build a wide front against imperialism and towards peace.