Trump Warns U.S. Allies to Take Notice

Washington:

With his public criticism of Ukraine’s leader, Donald Trump is making it clearer than ever that he prioritizes power over alliances—a chilling message for America’s global network of allies.

In the eight decades since World War II, the United States has sought to lead a global order by promoting international rules and ensuring the security of democracies in Europe, East Asia, and the oil-rich Gulf Arab monarchies.

US presidents, self-proclaimed “leaders of the free world,” have at times reduced or withdrawn support from dependent partners, including Afghanistan, South Vietnam, and Taiwan when establishing relations with Beijing.

However, there was little precedent for the dramatic on-camera confrontation that occurred Friday in the Oval Office, where Trump and Vice President JD Vance harshly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has relied on Western support to withstand a three-year Russian invasion.

Vance accused Zelensky of ingratitude for the billions of dollars in US assistance, while Trump highlighted the US ally’s vulnerability, angrily telling him, “You don’t have the cards.”

Days earlier, Trump had declared he was making a “decisive break” with past US foreign policy, which he described as “foolish” and responsible for “the deaths of many, many people.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called for the United States to emulate Russia and China by prioritizing self-interest—a stark contrast to former President Joe Biden, who saw alliances as a way to amplify US influence.

– ‘Profound shift’ on democracy –

Trump has long criticized NATO allies as trade competitors who exploit US military protection, although last week he voiced support for the alliance’s mutual defense commitment.

He mockingly called Zelensky a “dictator” for not holding elections since the invasion, while praising Vladimir Putin, who has been Russia’s president or prime minister for 25 years.

Trump has also refused to rule out using military force to seize Greenland and the Panama Canal, suggesting that the United States—like Russia—should take what it wants.

While Washington’s advocacy for democracy has “rightly been accused of hypocrisy, now there’s not even any pretense that the United States is upholding those values,” said Max Bergmann, director of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

“I think that’s going to be very damaging for emerging democracies around the world, for democratic movements, and for human rights. This is a truly profound shift in the international global order,” he said.

Bergmann added that Trump’s actions are creating a “real opening” for rival China.

“The United States has been trying to convince countries that when you deal with China, China could betray you,” Bergmann said. “Well, here’s the United States essentially doing the ultimate betrayal, or completely switching sides, and abandoning support for a democracy at war.”

– Message on Taiwan? –

European leaders immediately discussed strengthening their defenses independently of the United States. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said a “new age of infamy has begun” following the “unspeakable” scene in the White House.

Among the regions likely to feel the greatest impact are former Soviet bloc nations that joined NATO for protection against Moscow, and Taiwan, the self-governing democracy claimed by Beijing.

Trump said Monday that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would be a “catastrophic event,” as Taiwanese chip-making giant TSMC announced $100 billion in investments in the United States.

Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the German Marshall Fund’s Indo-Pacific program, said Taiwan “has reason to be nervous.” Unlike Ukraine, which has support from nearly all of Europe, Taiwan relies exclusively on the United States for weapons.

However, she noted that the economic stakes make the situations different, pointing to Taiwan’s influence as the world’s leading chipmaker and a major investor.

In the words Trump used with Zelensky, “Taiwan has cards,” Glaser said—though Trump himself noted Monday that the TSMC deal could slightly mitigate that advantage.

Joshua Rovner, a political scientist at American University, said Trump sees uncertainty as part of his strategy. Despite criticizing Europe during his first term, he actually increased US troop levels on the continent.

“Trump’s language can be interpreted in a million different ways,” Rovner said. “What really matters is what he ultimately does with US forces.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)