Deep Dive: Trump's retrenchment policy and opinion changes push other powers toward new understandings

From the geopolitical analyst's perspective, the U.S. retrenchment policy under President Trump represents a strategic pivot toward unilateralism, historically rooted in isolationist tendencies seen in early 20th-century American foreign policy, such as the rejection of the League of Nations. This approach prioritizes domestic interests but risks eroding alliances like NATO, where U.S. leadership has been pivotal since 1949. Key actors include the United States as the retreating power and 'other powers'—likely referring to rising states like China and Russia—whose strategic interests lie in filling power vacuums through deepened bilateral ties, such as the expanding BRICS framework or Sino-Russian partnerships in Eurasia. The international affairs correspondent highlights cross-border ripple effects, where U.S. unpredictability disrupts global trade norms and humanitarian coordination. For instance, abrupt policy shifts mirror past tariff wars that strained supply chains across North America, Europe, and Asia, compelling nations to diversify partnerships—Europe toward autonomous defense via PESCO, and Indo-Pacific states accelerating Quad cooperation without full U.S. commitment. This fosters multipolar understandings, affecting migration flows as unstable U.S. commitments reduce support for refugee processing in Latin America and the Middle East. Regionally, intelligence experts note cultural contexts amplifying isolation: America's exceptionalist narrative clashes with interdependent global cultures, from Confucian hierarchy in East Asia favoring stable hierarchies to tribal solidarities in the Middle East preferring reliable patrons. Trump's flip-flops undermine trust, pushing Sunni Arab states toward normalization with Israel independently and African nations toward Chinese infrastructure deals. Implications span continents, with Europe facing heightened Russian border threats sans U.S. deterrence, Asia navigating U.S.-China rivalry alone, and Latin America confronting unchecked migration pressures. Looking ahead, this trajectory could solidify a post-American order, where organizations like the UN lose efficacy, and non-Western powers craft parallel institutions. Stakeholders from EU leaders to Global South diplomats must recalibrate, weighing short-term gains against long-term instability from a unmoored superpower. The nuance lies in 'America First' delivering domestic wins yet inviting strategic encirclement.