Signal The United States classified as a declining democracy

Summary

This signal records the United States now being counted among declining democracies. Sitra observes that the US remains the leading global power but is increasingly divided at home, which makes political compromise harder. Under President Trump, it pursues foreign and trade interests deal by deal, with little regard for diplomatic norms or multilateral bodies. By cutting disaster and development aid and turning away from long-standing alliances, it has also weakened its own soft power and shaken European trust in it as a security guarantor. Domestically, the judiciary, press freedom, academic freedom and civil rights are all under strain. China has moved into the resulting gap, which for a small country like Finland raises the importance of the EU as a counterweight.