Analysis: Trump Pitches Every Country-For-Itself System in Asia

The following article by John T. Bennett was posted on the Roll Call website November 13, 2017:

President urges Asian leaders to replicate his ‘America first’ approach

President Donald Trump, here arriving in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping, has defended his “America first” approach throughout his Asia trip. (Official White House photo by Shealah Craighead/Flickr)

President Donald Trump has used parts of his Asia tour to vigorously defend his “America first” approach to governing. But he also told world leaders to look out for themselves.

Trump views the world in stark every-country-for-itself terms. He frequently says nations should think of their own self interests at all times, eschewing international groups and deals that are composed of three parties or more.

Such views put him at odds not only with many foreign policy experts, but also with members of his own party. Even as Trump has doubled down on a “country-first” philosophy, many Republican lawmakers have urged him to keep the United States heavily involved in global affairs. Continue reading “Analysis: Trump Pitches Every Country-For-Itself System in Asia”