The first is the brutal conflict that Russian President Vladimir Putin unleashed when he invaded Ukraine. The second is a self-inflicted war: one that Trump himself is waging against America’s closest allies. Instead of strengthening global partnerships, the former president’s policies are isolating the U.S., weakening its global standing, and giving Russia and China a dangerous upper hand.
America cannot afford to fight the world alone. Yet, as threats multiply—from Russia’s military aggression to China’s rising dominance, Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and Houthi rebels disrupting vital shipping lanes—Trump’s approach is driving allies away. Rather than rallying the free world to stand against these mounting threats, Team Trump is escalating trade wars, hinting at abandoning NATO, and suggesting that Europe should handle its own defense. Even Vice President JD Vance has echoed these sentiments, arguing that the European Union should fend for itself.
The consequences of this strategic blunder are already showing. Trump’s miscalculated attempts to negotiate peace in Ukraine—offering partial ceasefires to appease Putin—have backfired. Moscow swiftly rejected Trump’s proposed ceasefire, seeing it as weakness rather than diplomacy. Meanwhile, Putin is mobilizing 160,000 new troops, a significant increase from last year, preparing for a fresh assault on Ukraine’s Donbas region.
But Putin isn’t just playing for time in Ukraine—he’s also fueling chaos in the Middle East. Russia is supplying ballistic missiles to Iran, which in turn arms the Houthis in Yemen and militants in Somalia. These groups are directly threatening U.S. naval forces and disrupting global trade. Meanwhile, Russia is shielding Iran’s nuclear program, warning of “catastrophic” consequences if Trump targets Tehran’s facilities.
In the Indo-Pacific, China’s Xi Jinping is capitalizing on the global disorder. Beijing recently boosted its defense budget by 7.2% and is flexing its military muscle through aggressive naval exercises. Chinese warships have been conducting live-fire drills near Australia, harassing Filipino vessels in the South China Sea, and even patrolling Indonesian waters to assert dominance. Most concerning, China staged a massive military exercise simulating an invasion of Taiwan—an unmistakable message to the world.
Far from separating Russia and China, Trump’s policies are driving them into a stronger alliance. Instead of deterring America’s biggest geopolitical rivals, Team Trump is inadvertently strengthening their bond. This “No Limits” partnership between Moscow and Beijing is expanding its influence across Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific, eroding America’s power in the process.
And it’s not just Russia and China exploiting this vacuum—Europe is reacting, too. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently warned that the EU is prepared to stand on its own, signaling a shift away from relying on the U.S. for defense and economic stability. European nations are increasingly looking to South Korea and France for weapons instead of the U.S., and China is actively working with the EU to counter Trump’s tariffs. Instead of maintaining America’s influence, Trump’s policies are pushing Europe into Beijing’s economic embrace.
America’s traditional strategy for winning global conflicts has always relied on the pillars of national power—diplomacy, information, military strength, and economic influence (DIME). But Team Trump is dismantling these critical tools, risking America’s dominance on the world stage.
As the old African proverb warns: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
Trump still holds the power to reclaim America’s leadership—if he chooses to use it. The question is: Will he act before it’s too late?
