The US policy shift under the Trump administration has raised solemn security and strategic concerns among its conventional allies. Donald Trump’s America-first approach is undermining the United States’ global dominance.

International relations among states are undergoing a rapid and unprecedented shift due to the astonishing policies of the contemporary US administration. The United States has swiftly altered its foreign policy outlook toward its conventional allies since the re-election of Donald Trump as the U.S. president.

In a surprising move, President Trump admonished his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky and blamed him for gambling with the Third World War. The Trump administration’s complete reversal of policies from the Biden era has sparked uncertainty among U.S. allies, who now question Washington’s reliability as a partner. This has created a power vacuum in the developing world, which Russia and China will not hesitate to fill.

To contain Russia, the former US administration, under President Joe Biden, provided military and diplomatic support to Ukraine to entangle Russia in a regional conflict. The European Union also provided significant financial and military aid to Ukraine due to its alliance with the United States and to ensnare Russia in a long-term conflict with Ukraine by threatening its sovereignty and security. However, the recent US policy shift towards Ukraine has petrified the European Union.

In 2023, peace talks between Russia and Ukraine were disrupted by pressure from the United States, which also pressured the European Union to financially support Ukraine’s military aggression against Russia. However, the US retreat from supporting Ukraine has increased the EU’s responsibility to assist Kyiv. The recent trade tariffs by the Trump administration on all of its trade partners have further intensified relations between the US and its allies.

The European Union is now compelled to rethink its alliance with the United States. Although Europe has been unable to support Ukraine for a long time without the US help, the recent EU summit held by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, to reiterate the European nations’ support to Ukraine was a gesture that the EU was prepared to distance itself from the new US policies. In pursuit of the “America First policy”, the United States is losing its role as a global superpower. The protectionist policies of the Trump administration have further expedited the decline of the US global hegemony.

The Rise of China and Russia

President Trump’s rhetoric of occupying Canada and Greenland has also deepened the fissure among the US and its allies. The recent trade tariffs by the Trump administration have also forced India, Japan, Australia, and South Korea to take a cautious approach toward their alliance with the United States. Russia and China were already seeking to alter the unipolar world order. President Trump’s policy shifts have provided them with novel opportunities to expand their global influence. The recent summit between China, Japan, and South Korea to discuss a free trade agreement illustrates that the US is rapidly losing its influence and allies.

The developing world is already seeking to foster its relations with Russia and China. Moscow enjoys significant popularity in the Muslim world due to its unequivocal stance against Israeli war crimes in Gaza, blasphemy, and rising Islamophobia. Its leading role in the BRICS organization and de-dollarization campaign has increased its support among third-world countries. The recent US trade tariffs on almost all the countries have further pushed the developing world towards Russia and China. The Trump administration’s travel restrictions on more than 40 countries have further ruptured its international image.

On the other hand, the inclusive policies of Russia and China have increased their global influence. Both superpowers wield considerable influence in both Africa and the Middle East. These regions are rich in natural resources and minerals, which are necessary for economic prosperity. This provides Russia and China an opportunity to strengthen their economies by trading with African and Middle Eastern countries, creating a win-win economic alliance for all sides.

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has significantly extended its influence across three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe. China and Russia aim to expand their global influence in a bid to establish a more inclusive and genuinely liberal world order. President Trump’s policies are helping the two countries to achieve their strategic ambition, by exposing the credibility of the US alliance.

Trump’s “America First policy” has sparked a severe backlash from countries around the world. The global reaction to Trump’s trade tariffs demonstrates that the world is ready to undertake a transition towards an inclusive and liberal world order. It also suggests that the US-led unilateral world order is over. Russia and China need to strengthen their ties with the middle powers and maintain their inclusive policies to gain advantage of the power vacuum created due to the protectionist policies of the new US administration.

Taut Bataut – is a researcher and writer that publishes on South Asian geopolitics. Courtesy

https://journal-neo.su/2025/04/10/trumps-protectionism-and-the-end-of-u-s-dominance/