Anastasia Ryabokon21:27, 14.12.25
The Trump administration has completely changed the US approach to global politics and divides Russia’s and China’s views on security, writes John Avlon.
The fact that the current administration of US President Donald Trump’s “peace plan” was based on Russian documents underscores the president’s “reflexive fascination with the dictator.” It is now backed up by “a significant retreat from NATO allies, long a Christmas present on Vladimir Putin’s wish list,” writes political analyst John Avlon in a column for Rolling Stone magazine.
The author believes that the Trump administration continues to embolden “autocratic adversaries” and push away “democratic allies.”
“This is now official US policy, outlined in the recently published National Security Strategy – a policy document that each administration issues to announce its strategic priorities to the world,” he recalled.
The author pointed out that the document is full of “typical Trumpian high-profile statements and contradictions.” He calls it a complete break with the world that America built with its allies after World War II:
“It’s a red-white-blue middle finger to the free world. In some places, it even sounds like it was written by the Kremlin, presenting our approach to foreign policy thus far as the result of ‘elites convincing themselves that continued American dominance of the entire world is in our country’s best interests.'”
He also called the document a slander and an insult to bipartisan liberal internationalism, which is “based on collective security agreements – between Western democracies of various sizes – and is intended to counter autocratic aggression, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.” He added that the administrations of previous American presidents did not believe that “America’s continued dominance over the entire world is in our country’s best interests.” However, this is often discussed in Russia. And therefore, the National Security Strategy establishes that “the Trump administration finds common ground with an axis of autocrats, promoting regional hegemony as a vision of the 21st century.” That is why Trump is showing interest in the processes in the Western Hemisphere.
“The flip side of Trump’s regional power grab is an uncertain peace based on the principle of “might is right” with other regional hegemons – China and Russia. China gets the opportunity to dominate Asia, and Taiwan becomes an attractive target on the task list of Chinese President-for-life Xi. Russia gets eastern Ukraine and a weakened NATO,” he added.
He recalled that historically, the peace offered by dictatorial regimes has always been based on armies. And this is exactly the understanding of peace that the far left had in the recent past.
“We are now witnessing the rise of so-called ‘Cody Pink Conservatives’ who espouse an isolationist worldview and who really don’t care what happens outside our borders, as Vance shamefully declared regarding the fate of Ukraine. This is extremely naive — especially if you believe in peace through strength,” he wrote.
Trump’s contradictions
The new National Security Strategy says the US should “continue to improve trade (and other) relations with India.” In fact, US-India relations have been destroyed by Trump’s 50 percent tariffs. The Strategy also promises to “preserve America’s unparalleled soft power.” In fact, the Trump administration is destroying actual soft power tools like the Voice of America and the United States Agency for International Development.
Since the Strategy was released, Trump has approved the sale of critical Nvidia AI chips to China, undermining his strong claims to ensure American leadership in the AI arms race. Trump’s calls for regime change in Venezuela — without any “plan to stabilize a failed socialist state” — are also puzzling.
He reminds us that America is a republic, not an empire. And he suggests strengthening ties between democratic republics – military and economic – to “act as a decisive counterweight to the growing autocratic alliance.” In his opinion, there is no safety in an “ostrich-like” isolationist impulse, ignoring aggression, or giving aggressors “strength through appeasement.”
More about changes in US policy
Recall that according to media estimates, Donald Trump has changed US policy towards China and instead of deterrence has chosen to divide spheres of influence. Similar trends are observed in the Trump administration’s relations with Russia.
At the same time, the Trump administration is forming a coalition to counter China’s dominance in the extraction of critical minerals and its growth in artificial intelligence and other technologies.
(C)UNIAN 2025