New leadership takes international stage
‘America First’ has hurt US and weakened alliances
While most of us have been preoccupied with the chaos unfolding here at home, I am compelled to warn of advancing adversaries around the globe. This may be the last thing people want to hear, but American foreign policy failures in the past 30 years, particularly America’s unilateral withdrawal worldwide more recently, have provided adversaries with an opportunity to meaningfully strengthen their positions.
Under the mantle of “America First” we have weakened our alliances, selfinflicted a decline in our moral standing and economic potential, and allowed our security to ebb at an accelerating rate. China’s economic strength, military capabilities and expansionary posture have grown markedly. Russia, Iran and North Korea have also significantly advanced their military capabilities and negotiating positions.
Given that military might is derivative of economic might, China has grown from a formidable competitor into a serious potential adversary. To participate in the fast-growing economies of Southeast Asia and check China’s growing dominance, President Barack Obama executed a Bush-initiated “pivot” to Southeast Asia. That pivot culminated in the signing of the TransPacific Partnership with 11 US allies. It was less than perfect, but President Donald Trump abandoned TPP four days into his presidency.
While Trump might have relished ripping up the trade agreement, it’s clear he completely misunderstood the profound consequences. Tragically, Trump chose a go-it-alone negotiation with China that resulted in the beginnings of a trade war that failed to dent China’s momentum.
China’s economic, political and military prowess have only grown despite Trump’s attempts to dominate it. China has claimed a large swath of the South China Sea as its own, installed tighter rule over Hong Kong and is growing ties with 138 countries through its $12 trillion Belt and Road Initiative.
While we Americans like to think “We’re No. 1,” the facts are that China’s GDP is over 20% bigger than ours, its share of world manufacturing is 71% bigger, and its steel production is 11 times bigger. The academic achievement of China’s students is near the top of 79 major countries, while our rank is 30th. Technologically, China is growing rapidly, deploying hypersonic nuclear armed missiles, carrier-killer missiles and building aircraft carriers while the U.S. has been retiring them.
Never in the history of the world has there been a true hegemonic power like the U.S., and never has any hegemon ceded power so quickly to a rising competitor the way America has.
In Europe, Trump’s lambasting of our European allies has sown doubts among both allies and adversaries over whether NATO is truly rock solid. Starting in 2016, both Obama and Trump failed to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to leave eastern Ukraine and not deploy nuclear warhead capable missiles in Kaliningrad.
In 2019, Trump withdrew America from the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty, giving Russia room to grow its influence in Europe. Fortunately, the U.S. can renew the treaty by Feb. 5, though that’s just 16 days after Inauguration Day.
Trump also has withdrawn 12,000 troops from Germany and undermined several international agreements that have been key to our security. America First has played out in practice as “America Alone.” We have walked away from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which limited Iran’s nuclear bomb-making ability; this has left Iran closer to constructing a nuclear weapon.
We also have weakened our involvement in organizations combating the most serious threats to our world, including the World Health Organization, the Paris Climate Accord and the World Trade Organization.
The post-world War II world order that brought America to the pinnacle of power was based on forging alliances with other people who shared our values. To bring our precipitous slide on the world stage to a halt and regain our footing as an anchor of democracy, peace and growing prosperity requires us to turn away from hardball “America First” negotiating tactics to more collaborative engagement with other countries. Non-zero-sum solutions are available, but leadership must have the maturity and courage to seek them out.
War, more than any other form of human endeavor, has shaped human history. Given the quantum jump in potential destruction arising out of conflict, dare we continue an America First mindset?
George R. Zadigian of Alliance manages engineering and construction projects and has been a student of foreign policy starting with graduate work at Cornell University.