U.S. President Donald Trump has a distinct view of his country’s place in the world, and while his views are not shared by all members of this administration, he is the ultimate decision-maker. Others in his government may harbor preferences different from those of the president, but they matter little when events occur and a response is required.
While there is considerable debate about how to characterize the president’s outlook and how he will respond in a crisis, there should be no doubt that Trump sees U.S. roles and responsibilities quite differently from his predecessors. As the newly released National Security Strategy states, “The days of the United States propping up the entire world order like Atlas are over.” Other nations, Japan among them, must step up.
The truth is the world has since the end of World War II looked to Washington for leadership and guidance. For better or for worse, U.S. administrations have provided energy and impetus to the global order. For a time, that role reflected the distribution of power and wealth in the world — with the U.S. head and shoulders above the rest.
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