The world of politics is in flux after Trump returned to the White House. In his previous term, Trump was not able to do what he wanted due to the strong US establishment.
This time, a mature Trump is back, not only in US politics but also on the international stage, where he has a set of ideas and policies that he is determined to push forward. People must remember that during his inaugural event, world leaders from the Americas and populist leaders from Europe participated.
Soon after taking office, Trump threatened Canada and Mexico. Initially, these countries tried to retaliate but soon fell in line with Trump’s vision. In February, Trump used the same tactic and indicated the possibility of pulling America out of providing security for Europe.
Over the past month world leaders such as Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and French President Emmanuel Macron visited the US and met with Trump. However, Donald Trump has not made a single foreign visit yet.
Trump’s statements on Europe, Ukraine, and the US’s recent unprecedented move to side with Russia in the United Nations General Assembly voting have also created a sense of fear among European leaders.
The upcoming visit of the UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer to the US appears to be a consequence of that fear. Interestingly, just before his trip to the US, the UK announced a major increase in defense spending, aiming to raise it to 2.5% of GDP by 2027. This move marks the biggest sustained military investment since the Cold War, as stated by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in parliament on February 25. The UK last spent 3% of GDP on defense in 1993-94, and Starmer has also set a long-term target to return to that level. This aligns with Trump’s vision, where he wants US allies to bear the financial burden of their own security and defense. The UK’s move appears to be a gesture to appease Trump before the British Prime Minister’s visit to the US.
Trump is determined not to repeat the mistakes from his first term. This time, he has brought his own establishment of people into the government to “Make America Great Again” by reinforcing America’s importance on the world stage. To prioritize America first, his vision is to cut all unnecessary US funding to other countries and redirect that money into the pockets of Americans, ultimately aiming to stabilize the US economy.
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A sense of uncertainty has spread among European leaders, who now appear confused. They have realized that Europe must take responsibility for its own security. While the UK was already out of the EU, it previously supported European security, particularly with regards to the Russia-Ukraine war.
However, the recent increase in defence spending signals a shift—an apparent alignment with the US rather than the EU.
Under Trump’s leadership, the US is pressuring long-time NATO allies to spend more on their defence, which fits into his “America First” agenda. Trump, being a business-minded leader, seeks the best deals for the US by securing national and economic interests. Previously, Europe and the US acted as a unified bloc, but Trump is challenging this traditional mindset, asking why Americans should pay for other countries’ security.
The shift means European nations will be compelled to buy more weapons from the US, injecting money into American defence companies. Previously, the same weapons were being handed in mass by the US without charging much as they were provided in the name of a security umbrella as part of its alliance group.
Now, the European nations are having to foot their own bills and it is going to help American companies. The UK, by increasing its defence spending, is effectively delinking from the EU while strengthening ties with the US. Starmer will be making the journey to washington this week and he will be hoping that these moves will have made a positive impression on Trump.
Meanwhile Trump is smartly playing his game as a businessman—bringing money into America without concern for how it impacts the European economy. This is all in line with his “America First” vision.
In the past, the US prioritized alliances, but now, under Trump, the focus has shifted toward national interests. He is not concerned with international diplomacy, traditional allies, or maintaining alliances merely for the sake of historical ties.
Instead, now he is focused on ensuring that America does not foot the bill for others. Trump is not here to appease Europe, Canada, the UK, or any other allies; rather, his priority is the American people—bringing billions of dollars into the country. For Trump, good trade and business deals matter more than maintaining alliances that according to him act only as a drain on American resources.
