Trump Isn’t Interested in Competing With China

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1. When Trump became President many people dismissed the worst-case scenarios about what he would do to international relations by citing the consequences to America’s influence and reputation if he actually carried out his threats and went with his instincts regarding American allies, trade, Russia and China.

   The simple answer to all this is that **Trump doesn’t care** about these consequences. In the first place, he genuinely believes that the United States can simply carve up the world into spheres of influence with Russia and China, rather than have to fight them. He did briefly fight a trade war with China, but it was mainly because he felt disrespected by their retaliatory tariffs, and he has always intended to reach a deal with Jinping eventually, just as he has sought with Putin. He views deals with these two countries as more important than with Canada, Mexico, the EU, Japan, South Korea or India.

   This may be a crude analogy, but Trump’s view of the world is similar to that of a mob boss. ‘Allies’ in Europe and Asia are supplicants, meant to be extorted for tribute in exchange for favours. While men like Putin and Jinping are viewed as Trump’s equals – bosses of rival territories, that he might have to fight but can also live with if they show one another mutual respect.

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