Last Updated on July 23, 2025 by ThePublic
As the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump’s actions since taking office in January 2025 have significantly strained relationships with key allies, primarily through aggressive trade policies, diplomatic shake-ups, and a confrontational foreign policy approach. These actions have sparked concerns about the erosion of U.S. global influence and the cohesion of longstanding alliances. Below is an analysis of how Trump has picked fights with allies, distanced the U.S. from them, and potentially undermined U.S. global power, based on recent developments.
1. Aggressive Tariff Policies
Trump has re-escalated trade wars by imposing or threatening steep tariffs on some of the United States’ closest allies, disrupting economic ties and sowing uncertainty:
- Canada: Trump announced a 35% tariff on Canadian imports, set to take effect on August 1, 2025, citing issues like the fentanyl crisis and trade imbalances. This move upended progress on trade negotiations and strained relations with a key neighbor and ally. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has faced pressure to respond, with Canada reportedly considering countermeasures.
- Japan and South Korea: Both nations, critical U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific, were threatened with 25% tariffs unless they addressed perceived trade imbalances. Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba called the move “deeply regrettable,” highlighting the damage to a historically strong security alliance.
- European Union and Others: Trump has threatened 30% tariffs on the EU, Mexico, and other countries like South Africa, Thailand, and Bangladesh. These threats have frustrated allies who believed they were engaging in good-faith trade talks. French President Emmanuel Macron warned of Europe’s overreliance on the U.S., signaling a push for greater European autonomy.
- Brazil: A 50% tariff on Brazilian imports was imposed, partly as a response to the prosecution of Trump’s political ally, former President Jair Bolsonaro. This move rattled markets and strained ties with a major Latin American partner.
Impact: These tariffs are seen as a tool to extract concessions but have instead alienated allies, prompting them to consider retaliatory measures or seek alternative trade partners, such as China or Russia. The economic uncertainty has also led to market volatility, with the S&P 500 dropping 0.8% after tariff announcements. This approach risks isolating the U.S. economically and weakening its leverage in global trade networks.
2. Diplomatic Corps Overhaul
Trump’s administration has initiated a significant shake-up of the U.S. State Department, firing over 1,350 employees, including 1,107 civil service and 246 foreign service officers, on July 11, 2025. This move, directed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is intended to align the diplomatic corps with Trump’s “America First” agenda but has drawn sharp criticism:
- Critics’ Concerns: The layoffs are seen as undermining U.S. diplomatic capacity at a time of multiple global crises, including Russia’s war in Ukraine, the Gaza conflict, and tensions between Israel and Iran. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine stated that these actions make “America less safe and less secure.”
- Elimination of Key Roles: The administration plans to eliminate the role of the top official for civilian security, democracy, and human rights and close offices monitoring war crimes, signaling a retreat from traditional U.S. leadership on global human rights and conflict resolution.
Impact: The gutting of experienced diplomatic staff risks weakening the U.S.’s ability to maintain strong alliances and navigate complex international crises. Allies may perceive the U.S. as less reliable, pushing them to seek other partners or act independently, as evidenced by Macron’s call for Europe to reduce reliance on the U.S.
3. Confrontational Foreign Policy Moves
Trump’s foreign policy has oscillated between interventionism and isolationism, creating confusion and friction with allies:
- Ukraine and NATO: Trump’s temporary halt of military aid to Ukraine, including pausing air defense missile shipments, caught allies off guard and signaled a potential weakening of support against Russian aggression. Although he reversed this decision, the initial move drew criticism from NATO allies and raised doubts about U.S. reliability. Posts on X have described this as a “massive low point” and accused Trump of undermining Ukraine’s security.
- Middle East: Trump’s bombing of Iranian nuclear sites and support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have heightened tensions in the region. His public defense of Netanyahu against Israeli judicial proceedings, likening them to a “witch hunt,” has been seen as meddling in allies’ domestic affairs.
- Brazil: Trump’s intervention in Brazil’s judicial process by imposing tariffs in response to Bolsonaro’s prosecution has been viewed as an overreach, further alienating a key regional ally.
Impact: These actions have strained relationships with allies who value U.S. consistency and partnership. The perception of the U.S. as an unpredictable actor could push allies toward neutrality or alignment with rival powers like China or Russia, as suggested by some X posts noting that Trump’s confrontational stance may drive allies toward BRICS nations.
4. Impact on U.S. Global Power
The cumulative effect of these policies is a potential erosion of U.S. global influence:
- Weakened Alliances: By targeting allies with tariffs and reducing diplomatic capacity, Trump risks fracturing alliances like NATO and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, which are critical for countering China and Russia. Japan, for instance, is reconsidering its diplomatic approach to the U.S., feeling that its “nice, polite” stance has not yielded results.
- Economic Isolation: Tariffs and trade wars could lead allies to diversify trade relationships, reducing U.S. economic leverage. The EU is already exploring ways to offset potential auto import tariffs, and China has expressed concerns about being sidelined in U.S.-ally trade deals.
- Loss of Soft Power: The U.S.’s traditional role as a leader in diplomacy and human rights is being undermined by the State Department layoffs and withdrawal from global agreements like the Paris Climate Accord. This could diminish the U.S.’s ability to shape international norms.
- Encouraging Multipolarity: Trump’s actions may inadvertently strengthen a multipolar world order, as allies seek balanced relationships with Russia and China to hedge against U.S. unpredictability.
Why This Is Serious
The fraying of alliances and the perception of U.S. unreliability could have long-term consequences:
- Security Risks: Weakened alliances like NATO could embolden adversaries like Russia or China, particularly if the U.S. appears less committed to collective defense.
- Economic Fallout: Tariffs could disrupt global supply chains, raise costs for American consumers, and provoke retaliatory measures, potentially harming the U.S. economy.
- Geopolitical Realignment: Allies distancing themselves from the U.S. could shift the global balance of power, with countries like China gaining influence in regions traditionally aligned with the U.S.
- Domestic Backlash: Trump’s policies have sparked domestic criticism, with some Republicans expressing concern over the Pentagon’s “shoot first” approach and the lack of a coherent grand strategy, which could undermine his administration’s effectiveness.
Conclusion
President Trump’s actions, through tariffs, diplomatic purges, and confrontational foreign policy, have strained relationships with key allies like Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the EU, risking the U.S.’s position as a global leader. While his supporters argue that these moves pressure allies to meet U.S. demands (e.g., NATO’s increased defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035), critics warn that they alienate partners and weaken U.S. influence at a time of global instability. The long-term impact could be a more isolated U.S., with allies seeking alternatives and adversaries capitalizing on the resulting power vacuum.