by Christian Miller
The Message from the American Public
The re-election of Donald Trump has prompted renewed reflection on the appeal of isolationism to American voters. Despite President Biden’s multilateral approach, an approach that was much more popular with American partners than Trump’s approach during his first term as president, in 2024, Americans saw Trump’s appeals to isolationism as the better option. To maintain a strong partnership with the US under Trump’s presidency, American partners must reevaluate their perceptions of what Americans find desirable in the United States’ partners.
Trump’s foreign policy won out with American voters because they perceived it as prioritizing American needs, reducing costly international commitments, and emphasizing national sovereignty. Many Americans viewed international obligations as draining domestic resources without clear benefits. The “America First” narrative struck a chord, portraying the US as overburdened while others enjoyed the benefits of the international order.
What It Means for Relationships with the US
Biden’s attempt to rebuild alliances and restore the image of America as a reliable leader was welcomed by America’s foreign partners. However, this approach failed to resonate with voters at home who perceived current partnerships as uneven. If allies wish to maintain enduring relationships, they must demonstrate that the value of those relationships is two-way. This means less reliance on America for security, and economic partnerships that provide tangible benefits to American workers.
America under the incoming administration will seek partners, not dependents. A Pew report found that many in Europe do not think American foreign policy takes their interests into account, in effect providing a mirror image of the view many Americans have of them. The new status quo will create the opportunity for a more independent relationship with the United States, one that will enable those countries to pursue policies that they find more palatable and at the same time establish the basis for a firmer long-term relationship with the US.
Europe
For Europe, now is the time to bolster defense spending and integration. Accelerating plans for a European defense force will provide numerous benefits, such as the ability to pursue their interests more independently of the US, as well as to pursue further energy independence and decrease their reliance on the US and Russia. This will also start to reshape the narrative that the US is the only significant contributor to regional security. European allies should also pursue stronger relationships with other democracies outside of the EU and NATO, such as Australia, Japan, and India. This diversification can further hedge against the potential unpredictability of US support.
Asia
For American allies in Asia, the risk of US support retreating to the same extent as in Europe is unlikely. Still, Trump may seek to scrutinize or reduce defense commitments that don’t appear to be mutually beneficial. For US partners in the region there are opportunities to appeal to American economic interests, such as joint projects in semiconductors or green energy. US allies in this region can make themselves more appealing as an alternate destination for American businesses looking to avoid or reduce investments in China. Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan should look for ways they can bolster their trilateral defense beyond the US security umbrella. Australia and New Zealand should also consider pursuing a more active role in regional security. Highlighting their ability to act independently will make US support more appealing while also lessening the chance that China will be emboldened to apply economic pressure to enforce its own demands.
The Middle East
For US partners in the Middle East, the US will seek less involvement in the region than at any other time in the last forty years. US allies in the region should consider building and contributing to regional security arrangements that don’t over-rely on US support, so as to prevent Iran feeling emboldened to take advantage of US disinterest. The Gulf States should continue to diversify away from oil dependance, and this may be an area where the Trump administration would look favorably on investment in American businesses. They should also look to strengthen bilateral relations beyond simply energy, positioning themselves as valuable commercial partners in sectors like technology and tourism.
The Takeaway
Ultimately, Trump’s re-election signals a profound shift that American allies cannot afford to ignore—a United States that favors relationships where the burden and benefits are shared more equally, and where allies show tangible contributions to joint security and economic prosperity. Allies and partners must redefine their approaches to partnership with the US by demonstrating independence, increasing contributions to collective security, and appealing directly to the American public’s desire for mutually beneficial relationships. Though this will pose challenges, it also presents an opportunity for these nations to reimagine partnership with the United States and build a more resilient, mutually rewarding international order.
I am a student at Regis University in Colorado with a long-standing interest in foreign policy, geopolitics, and international political economy. For several years, I have closely followed these topics, drawing insights from journals like American Diplomacy to better understand their interplay and impact on foreign affairs. Having engaged extensively with the analyses of others, I was inspired to contribute my own perspective on the implications of Donald Trump’s reelection and the shifting priorities it represents for American foreign policy, and how current American allies might leverage these changes to advance their own interests.