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The recent face-off between President Donald Trump and the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, in the Oval Office revealed a deep change in U.S. foreign policy that could have long-lasting global consequences. Many experts worry that under Trump, the United States is needlessly retreating from its historical role as a defender of democracies and aligning itself with authoritarian regimes like Russia.
“It’s difficult to imagine the United States ever regaining its power and prestige,” said M. Steven Fish, a UC Berkeley professor of political science whose research focuses on Russia, democracy and international affairs. The U.S.’s influence of the last 80 years “is being wasted by Trump.”
“Trump wants to ram America toward autocracy, and he is reconfiguring the country’s foreign policy to support foreign autocrats,” Fish said. “Now, the United States is turning its back on its European democratic allies and could soon turn its back on those in the Asia-Pacific as well — including Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and Australia.”
Then the ramifications of this shift are profound. The Trump administration recently joined Russia and North Korea in voting against a United Nations resolution condemning Russian aggression in Ukraine. The Oval Office meeting with Zelenksy only underlined this perception: The U.S. is retreating from its traditional partnerships.
“Putin was one of the very few world leaders in 2016 who endorsed Trump,” Fish said. “Trump knows that Putin can make his closest allies fabulously rich. That kind of wealth and power is what Trump craves.”
Fish noted that Trump’s rhetoric often echoes Kremlin talking points. “Be it talking about Zelensky or talking about Ukraine on the battlefield or talking about war in general, he’s echoing what he hears from Putin.”
“It’s ludicrous demand,” Fish said. “Ukraine doesn’t even possess proven reserves of that caliber. Trump’s assertion that Ukraine ‘owes’ the U.S. because of the aid it provides is misleading. The U.S. has upon Ukraine approximately $67 billion, yet Trump is asking seven times that in resources.”
In addition to the fact that this deal is financially impractical, Fish contends that it would only embolden Russian aggression. “Trump is aligned with Putin, and sharing the spoils in Ukraine with Putin would work out just fine for him,” he said.
“NATO is more important than ever now,” Fish said. “Russia is an imperial power with expansionist goals. Ukraine is critical to restoring Russia’s former glory, according to Putin. There would be constant Russian pressure on Europe without NATO.”
“It’s going to put more burden on the United States in the long run without NATO,” Fish warned. If our allies are overrun, American power and influence will be greatly diminished. Trump’s approach fails to take into account the lessons of the 20th century: The U.S. can’t defend itself well while balancing threats abroad without regard for the security of its offshore allies.”
“Trump is trying to build a world where autocracies reign,” Fish said. “Putin wants Ukraine and whatever other country he can push. Xi Jinping wants Taiwan. Who gets what in return for America? The right to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America?”
That U.S. allies must protect themselves, Fish believes. “Trump has signaled loud and clear that they can’t trust American security guarantees as long as he’s president. “Earliest they adapt their defense strategies in response to these dynamics the better.”
Trump’s transformation of U.S. foreign policy is sure to reverberate for years. Whether America’s allies can adjust — and whether the harm to U.S. might and prestige is in fact irreversible — remains to be seen.
“It’s difficult to imagine the United States ever regaining its power and prestige,” said M. Steven Fish, a UC Berkeley professor of political science whose research focuses on Russia, democracy and international affairs. The U.S.’s influence of the last 80 years “is being wasted by Trump.”
The Reorientation of U.S. Foreign Policy
For decades the U.S. had been thought of as the anchor of global democracy, bolstering its allies and maintaining a rules-based international order. Although previous administrations did not always live up to their ideals, they were committed to protecting democratic allies. That is changing under Trump, Fish contends.“Trump wants to ram America toward autocracy, and he is reconfiguring the country’s foreign policy to support foreign autocrats,” Fish said. “Now, the United States is turning its back on its European democratic allies and could soon turn its back on those in the Asia-Pacific as well — including Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and Australia.”
Then the ramifications of this shift are profound. The Trump administration recently joined Russia and North Korea in voting against a United Nations resolution condemning Russian aggression in Ukraine. The Oval Office meeting with Zelenksy only underlined this perception: The U.S. is retreating from its traditional partnerships.
Trump’s Ties to Putin
Trump’s foreign policy appears to be closely aligned with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s interests. Trump’s doings are not about advancing U.S. interests but those of Trump.“Putin was one of the very few world leaders in 2016 who endorsed Trump,” Fish said. “Trump knows that Putin can make his closest allies fabulously rich. That kind of wealth and power is what Trump craves.”
Fish noted that Trump’s rhetoric often echoes Kremlin talking points. “Be it talking about Zelensky or talking about Ukraine on the battlefield or talking about war in general, he’s echoing what he hears from Putin.”
Quarterly Trends of the Mineral Rights Deal
One of the most alarming elements of Trump’s foreign policy is the American effort to strike a mineral rights deal with Ukraine. Trump has demanded that in exchange for U.S. assistance, Ukraine transfer $500 billion of its mineral assets.“It’s ludicrous demand,” Fish said. “Ukraine doesn’t even possess proven reserves of that caliber. Trump’s assertion that Ukraine ‘owes’ the U.S. because of the aid it provides is misleading. The U.S. has upon Ukraine approximately $67 billion, yet Trump is asking seven times that in resources.”
In addition to the fact that this deal is financially impractical, Fish contends that it would only embolden Russian aggression. “Trump is aligned with Putin, and sharing the spoils in Ukraine with Putin would work out just fine for him,” he said.
The NATO Question
Perhaps the single biggest change in Trump’s foreign policy has been his attitude toward NATO. He has repeatedly questioned its relevance and even threatened to withdraw the United States from the alliance.“NATO is more important than ever now,” Fish said. “Russia is an imperial power with expansionist goals. Ukraine is critical to restoring Russia’s former glory, according to Putin. There would be constant Russian pressure on Europe without NATO.”
“It’s going to put more burden on the United States in the long run without NATO,” Fish warned. If our allies are overrun, American power and influence will be greatly diminished. Trump’s approach fails to take into account the lessons of the 20th century: The U.S. can’t defend itself well while balancing threats abroad without regard for the security of its offshore allies.”
What Lies Ahead?
Going forward, Fish predicts that Trump’s policies will only further embolden autocrats such as Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.“Trump is trying to build a world where autocracies reign,” Fish said. “Putin wants Ukraine and whatever other country he can push. Xi Jinping wants Taiwan. Who gets what in return for America? The right to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America?”
That U.S. allies must protect themselves, Fish believes. “Trump has signaled loud and clear that they can’t trust American security guarantees as long as he’s president. “Earliest they adapt their defense strategies in response to these dynamics the better.”
Trump’s transformation of U.S. foreign policy is sure to reverberate for years. Whether America’s allies can adjust — and whether the harm to U.S. might and prestige is in fact irreversible — remains to be seen.
