Friends Become Enemies, Enemies Become Friends: Inside Trump's Unusual Foreign Policy

President Donald Trump has turned American foreign policy upside down. He has threatened long-time allies like Canada, South Korea, and NATO members, while being friendly toward rivals like Russia and North Korea. Some experts say there is a plan behind these moves. Others worry that America is losing its standing in the world at a time when China is growing stronger.

Trump has made many bold moves on the world stage during both of his terms in office. He has talked about seizing Greenland, taking over Canada, and even bombing Oman, a country in the Middle East. He pulled the United States out of agreements on climate change, Iran's nuclear program, and world trade. He also moved the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, breaking decades of U.S. tradition.

At the heart of Trump's approach is the idea that America has been carrying too much of the load for other countries. Lyle Goldstein, a professor at Brown University, said he has some sympathy for that view. 'It's obvious that one reason the United States has fallen behind in so many indicators of living standards is that we are carrying much more of the burden than other countries,' Goldstein said. He also agreed, though, that Trump has made a lot of mistakes along the way.

Trump treats alliances like business deals, according to experts. He has pushed countries like Japan, South Korea, Canada, and European nations to give the U.S. better trade terms and spend more money on their own defense. Robert Muggah, a geopolitical expert based in Canada, said Trump 'sees dependence on the United States as leverage.' That means countries that rely on America have more to lose if things go wrong, and Trump uses that fear to get what he wants.

One big example is NATO, the military alliance formed after World War II to keep Europe safe. Trump has called it a 'paper tiger' and said European countries don't spend enough money on defense. Surprisingly, this pressure may have worked — European nations have started boosting their defense budgets. But experts like Daniel Fried, a former U.S. ambassador, say Trump's team hasn't been able to turn that win into a lasting policy.

Trump has also made friendly gestures toward North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, even scaling back military exercises that the U.S. normally holds with South Korea. Those drills are meant to prepare South Korea in case of war with North Korea. Experts warn that pulling back the exercises sends a risky signal. North Korea has continued to test missiles and has been sending weapons to Russia, even as it refuses to talk seriously about giving up its nuclear program.

Trump's relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin has also raised alarms in Europe. Russia has been fighting a war against Ukraine since 2022. Trump has been friendly with Putin while at times speaking harshly about Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Many European leaders see Russia's war as a serious threat to the safety of the entire continent, and they are worried about what Trump's approach means for their security.

Critics have also raised concerns about Trump's personal business interests overlapping with foreign policy. Trump's company has expanded business deals in Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar. These are the same countries that have tried to influence U.S. policy in the Middle East. Trump also accepted a Boeing 747 jet worth about $400 million from Qatar, which now serves as Air Force One.

Some of Trump's tactics have brought real results. Japan and South Korea have agreed to invest hundreds of billions of dollars in the U.S., and Europe has made big commitments to buy American energy. But Trump's tariffs — extra taxes on imported goods — have caused problems too. A trade war with Canada led Canada to put its own tariffs on $20 billion worth of American products, rattling global financial markets.

Many experts say it is still too early to know if Trump's approach will reshape the world order for good. Some of his actions, like leaving the Paris climate agreement, could be reversed by the next president. Others, like damaged trust with allies, may take much longer to repair. 'I don't think they're taking Trumpism as something that will be lasting,' said former ambassador Fried, referring to how many U.S. allies are just waiting for Trump's time in office to end.