Trump’s Foreign Policy — a Calculated Conundrum – The American Spectator | USA News and PoliticsThe American Spectator

America’s new policy of Realpolitik means rapprochement with Russia and refocusing on China.

The first 100 days of Donald Trump’s second term have precipitated a veritable deluge of both criticism and critique — the former often portraying him as a revolutionary. One could get that impression with the unprecedented speed and determination of his actions since January 1. Yet this view is superficial — lacking depth in understanding. Trump is not dismantling the foundations of American society — the Republic will “not perish from the earth.”

The U.S. president seeks to restore the pre-globalist republic that the modern liberal elite have attempted to divert onto a utopian, internationalist path. In this sense, Trump is not a revolutionary; rather, the 47th U.S. president is more akin to a counterrevolutionary — a pragmatic revisionist determined to reverse the excesses of the modern liberal elite.

Trump benefits for the time being from Republican majorities in both houses of Congress. Legal challenges to his policies (especially judicial ones) have so far made little progress. And this is particularly true with his efforts to downsize the government — “ala DOGE” — and deport illegal immigrants.

Accustomed to assaults from mainstream media, Trump does not hesitate to push back — he continues to counterpunch. Recent disclosures alleging that top administration officials debated strikes on Yemen over Signal have failed to gain political traction. If anything, it creates a formidable image of this president; it reinforces a perception of Donald Trump as a president who is decisive and acts in the best interest of America — without fear of scandal.

Trump also steers a clear and distinct economic course: re-industrialization, favorable balance of trade and investment in cutting-edge technologies here in the U.S. He is attempting to overturn decades of creeping globalist integration, pressing allies to utilize U.S. financial and technological resources to rebuild their industrial base.

Trump has used the threat of tariffs to tactical advantage. He applies pressure initially, then offers a compromise to induce competitors to negotiate terms favorable to America. This approach has been effective, especially with Washington’s allies, and this could potentially be the case with China. Trump is not gambling; rather, he is calculating that Beijing’s reliance on the U.S. market, and America’s influence over EU and Japanese trade policy, will yield strategic concessions.

In the realm of geopolitics, President Trump embraces a realist doctrine — Realpolitik —  grounded in great-power rivalry but as competitors not ideologues. He has redefined America’s global priorities with clarity: secure North America as a geopolitical fortress from Greenland to Panama; redirect U.S. and allied policy towards containment of China; develop what appears to be an unprecedented rapprochement diplomatically, economically, and politically with Russia; and consolidate influence in the Middle East by supporting Israel, partnering with Gulf monarchies, and allowing a pathway for Iran to avoid the military might of Israel and the U.S. by abandoning its nuclear ambitions.

With regard to America’s military sphere of influence, Trump is posturing for a display of greater U.S. strength. He is purging the armed forces of “gender liberalism” and accelerating strategic nuclear deterrence through modernization. Despite his public peace overtures (and isolationist accusations), the president has continued airstrikes against Iran’s proxies (i.e Houthis) in Yemen. Moreover, he has admonished Iran of devastating retaliation should negotiations on nuclear power falter.

Trump’s foreign policy is acutely reflected in his approach to the Ukraine-Russia conflict. It demonstrates a strategic pragmatism of Realpolitik. While he aims to end the war as quickly as possible, he has recognized that the achievement is more difficult and protracted than campaign rhetoric would allow.

One thing is certain, Trump is acting out of what he feels is in the best interest of the U.S.; his efforts with the war have nothing to do with sympathy for Russia or Ukraine. His actions with each remain committed to his “America First“’ policy. Hence, there is a minerals agreement with Ukraine and in-depth diplomatic and economic overtures towards Moscow. His policy towards the Ukraine conflict is fundamentally designed to pull America back from the brink. The Biden administration had put the U.S. at risk of escalation into a nuclear conflict. In this regard, Trump expects Western Europe to assume more responsibility for its own defense and therefore, peace in Europe.

Trump and the Kremlin

Perhaps, one of the most important features of Trump’s foreign policy is his developing relationship with Russia: the U.S. president does not see Russia as America’s primary adversary. He may view Moscow as a geopolitical rival, but not necessarily a military or ideological threat.

Instead of pursuing decades of policy initiatives designed to sever Russia from China, Trump aims to reengage with Russia economically — in areas like energy, the Arctic, and rare earths — with the calculated view that greater Western economic engagement will reduce Moscow’s dependence on Beijing.

It could be argued that America’s outreach to the Kremlin is the centerpiece of Trump’s foreign policy in his second term. His aim is not to divide Moscow and Beijing outright — neither Putin nor Xi would allow that — but rather, to lay the groundwork for a new global balance of power in which Russia has options beyond the Chinese orbit.

Donald Trump does not aspire to reinvent the American economic and political system — but rather, to restore it. His “counterrevolution” is aimed at reversing liberal-globalist dreams of utopia by reinforcing sovereignty in America and abroad — returning realism and geopolitical stability to international affairs. It is this quest — not disruption or confrontation — that defines the second presidential term of Donald J. Trump.

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