Explained in plain English
What is a zero-sum game?
A zero-sum game is where one person's gain is exactly another's loss, so the total sum of benefits and losses is zero. Trump's demand for loyalty, rather than money, could be seen this way: if he gains loyalty, allies might feel they lose some autonomy or influence, making it a win-lose situation rather than a shared benefit.
Stories that explain this
Trump tells NATO allies he wants loyalty, not moneyQuestions this opens up
Who wins in zero-sum? Is NATO zero-sum? What is a positive-sum game?This explainer came from a news story
BriefTea explains every UK news story in 80 words — and when a story assumes something you don't know, its Knowledge Galaxy maps the background so you can explore until it makes sense. Free, no ads, no paywall.
Get BriefTea on the App Store