Donald Trump's toxic combination of protectionist tariffs and reckless military adventurism is doing what no adversary could: driving America's closest allies straight into the arms of rivals. Longtime partners are scrambling to hedge against an increasingly unreliable United States, and the damage is entirely self-inflicted.
Canada, America's neighbor and one of its oldest allies, is pivoting sharply toward Europe. Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to address the European Parliament next month. Carney has already secured a security pact with the EU and set a goal of doubling Canada's non-U.S. exports over the next decade. Canadians realized that their country can no longer rely on Washington.
Meanwhile, Asia is watching in horror as Trump's war in Iran hollows out America's military stockpiles. Trump canceled joint exercises with South Korea and redeployed air defenses from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East. Hundreds of Patriot interceptors have been withdrawn from South Korea and other parts of Asia. Japan's purchase of 400 Tomahawk missiles could be delayed by up to two years, and Taiwan likely won't receive Patriot missiles on schedule. More than 1,500 interceptors were used in the Iran conflict, with fewer than 1,700 remaining — and it will take at least two years to replenish them.
And while Trump alienates friends, China is quietly filling the void. Beijing is making aggressive inroads with Egypt, a key U.S. defense partner that receives billions in American aid. The Chinese leader is due for his first state visit in a decade next week, accompanied by joint military exercises. Huawei is pitching to build massive AI data centers in Egypt. Trump's belligerence is opening the door wider for China with each passing day.
This is the Trump doctrine: bully allies, overextend the military, and cede ground to competitors. Global approval of America has plummeted from 48 percent to just 36 percent across 36 countries in a single year. Allies are diversifying, rivals are pouncing, and America's position at the center of the global order is crumbling — all because one man couldn't resist picking fights with everyone in sight.
#Trump #foreignpolicy #Canada #China #Europe #Asia #tradewar
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