What If It Is the United States That Is the Rogue State Thanks to Donald Trump?: Sometimes, when you declare a global trade war, criticize institutions such as NATO, and espouse rhetoric that includes calls to annex other countries, the world can turn against you.
That’s what could happen to the United States as some in the international community blame the Americans for acting like a rogue state.
The Chinese, Russians, Iranians, North Koreans, and extremist terrorist groups consider the United States an enemy.
However, it is now long-time U.S. allies that are turning against President Donald Trump’s nationalist tendencies.
We Have Been a Global Pariah Before
The United States has faced these problems before.
During the Second Gulf War when American troops occupied Iraq, many countries viewed Washington with disdain.
European allies such as France and Germany were against the invasion to depose Saddam Hussein. This led the international community to believe that the United States supported unnecessary unilateral military adventures that undermined peace efforts around the world.
During the international financial crisis of 2008 and 2009, the Americans were seen as responsible for the economic carnage.
The United States sparked a real estate crisis that led to the subprime mortgage meltdown, and this purported greed and carelessness put the financial world at risk. The Americans were believed by many overseas to be the source of this economic calamity.
The Fall of Afghanistan Showed How Error-Prone the U.S. Could Be
The botched American withdrawal from Afghanistan convinced friends and enemies that the United States could not be depended upon to honor its international commitments. Allies wondered if the Americans were dependable partners, and enemies figured they could always wait out the United States until it made mistakes and gave up militarily.
Bridge Burning, Not Bridge Building
Then, Trump administration officials and many Republicans criticized Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky and questioned the need for supporting the Ukrainians in their war against Russia.
Trump, who has always been skeptical of NATO, said out loud that he could completely withdraw from the alliance or refuse to support countries militarily that were not spending enough on defense.
Do We Hate International Relations?
Then there is the lack of foreign aid. The Trump administration killed off USAID, and that had many wondering if the Americans really cared about helping countries that need foreign aid to fight poverty.
There is also a general lack of sympathy and empathy for foreign lands. The Republicans have a strain of isolationism, favoring the withdrawal from international compacts and the world order. There is an anti-interventionist streak in the GOP. The neoconservatives who were the architects of the war on terror and “Endless Wars” in Iraq and Afghanistan have been vilified and abandoned. The party has changed, and many view the use of military force with disdain. The United States is no longer the global policeman that stands up for democracy and capitalism worldwide.
Now there is a trade war. It is hitting scores of countries very hard. China is the main trade adversary, but it is also longtime allies in Asia, such as India, Japan, and South Korea, that are being penalized along with the European Union. This could create not only a recession in America but also a global economic slowdown that could kill jobs and growth for everyone.
Don’t Keep Blaming America
However, I don’t want to be the leader of the “Blame America First” crowd that was so prevalent in the 1970s and 1980s. During the Cold War, the United States was vilified for its nuclear weapons and its proclivity to overthrow unfriendly governments. The Americans also supported leaders who were not democratic and who frequently violated human rights.
However, the United States built many elements of goodwill. A huge American-led coalition during the First Gulf War was successful and exemplified honorable statecraft. This demonstrated that the United States could be a leader for good and utilize its military against evil in a manner that fostered the best in international cooperation.
It was also the leadership of the United States and the Conservative Internationalist strategy of President Ronald Reagan that led to the downfall of the Soviet Union and communism. Democratic capitalism was seen as the winner, and authoritarian governments and centrally planned economies were considered the losers.
The United States was at the height of its power after the Soviet Union’s collapse. Democracy building in foreign lands was considered the proper place for U.S. diplomatic and military efforts. This continued through the 1990s. The 9/11 terror attacks also brought an international outpouring of sympathy and support for the United States. Even Russia was sorry that 9/11 happened.
What Happens Now?
Where do we go from here?
It is time to reassure allies and convince the world that the United States stands for Reagan-esque peace and prosperity around the world.
Diplomatic efforts in Ukraine and Russia are one way that the Americans could stand for a just and lasting peace in Eastern Europe. Diplomacy in Iran is good too. The United States should keep trying for an agreement that would curtail nuclear weapon use by Tehran. Trump should build on the Abraham Accords in the Middle East. In Asia, numerous allies should be reassured by Trump. North Korea could use another charm offensive.
Foreign aid appears to be on life support in this administration, but the State Department should still assume some of USAID’s responsibilities to promote poverty eradication and democratic capacity building in other countries.
The tariff experiment is ongoing, but it makes the United States look like “punishers” who release chaos and instability around the world. It is not too late to create bilateral trade deals, but this will take some time. With so many countries needing to agree to numerous one-on-one agreements, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to finalize these negotiations. However, the challenges should not be a showstopper. Give the Trump administration credit for trying to build bilateral trade agreements that will benefit the American economy.
Moreover, the “Peace Through Strength” strategy is a sound approach, and it was effective for Presidents Ronald Reagan and, to some extent, George H.W. Bush. But don’t forget “America First.” Trump won an election on this premise, and that means always acting in the U.S. national interest. Part of this is driven by domestic political pressures that call for fighting to replace all the manufacturing jobs lost over the last 30 years – hence the understandable use of tariffs and the inevitable waging of a trade war.
The United States must adopt a diplomatic strategy that reassures its allies that Americans are not the enemy. Trump should refrain from criticizing Ukraine and Zelensky. He should save belligerent talk for dictators and not democratic countries.
As I say in my book Don’t Turn Your Back on the World, America should take its international responsibilities seriously and not shrink from this duty to be the “Shining City on a Hill.” There is a place for U.S. leadership that builds on trust and goodwill. We have done it before, and we can do it again. The United States can still set the example and keep the international community from blaming our government for all of the trouble in the world. It is time to make sure that we are not the enemy.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
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