America’s Allies Are No Longer Waiting for Trump to Leave
They now figure isolationism and protectionism will be U.S. foreign policy for a long time to come.
TL;DR
- U.S. allies are preparing for a long-term shift in American foreign policy toward isolationism and protectionism, regardless of who holds the U.S. presidency.
- Nations are actively building military capabilities, diversifying trade, developing domestic industries, and forging new international relationships to reduce their dependence on the U.S.
- This strategic pivot is not a rejection of the U.S. but a response to perceived unreliability and a changing global landscape, with China benefiting from U.S. withdrawal.
- Examples include increased European defense spending, Canada's commercial outreach to China and partnership with the EU, and Japan's eased arms-export rules.
- The unpredictability of the U.S. under Trump has been a catalyst, but skepticism about America's global role appears to be a bipartisan trend.
- This trend is leading to a reordering of the international system, with allies seeking alternatives to U.S. leadership and creating openings for China.