The US alliance system requires reassessment to effectively counterbalance Chinese power and mitigate allied free riding, shifting focus from liberal rules-based world order conceptions. The second Trump administration successfully reduced allied free riding, but its trade wars with US allies have inadvertently prompted key partners to hedge towards China.
This approach risks undermining the primary goal of positioning the US against China's global economic expansion. A genuinely realist alliance policy would downplay liberal milieu goals, prioritize treating allies favorably over adversaries, and concentrate on maintaining a favorable balance of power within the Eurasian rimland. While the Trump administration's emphasis on domestic health, reassertion of US sovereignty, and increased allied military spending are commendable, its massive protective tariffs and economic pressure on allies have strained relations. This has led to higher prices for American consumers and manufacturers, and critically, encouraged allies to seek closer relations with Beijing, contradicting US strategic interests in a bipolar world where China is gaining strength.
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