Does this cost us nothing?
Yes.
I thought we were trying to pivot away from the US.
This is a welcome change, but it's a slow process. I don't see why we need to suffer unnecessarily when all you need to do to keep things stable during a massive shift like this is some disingenuous compliments.
How does it make us look to the rest of the world when our leadership practically sprints to support the US in violating international law?
It makes us look like we are trying to calm down the crackhead with a knife by calmly agreeing with them.