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Undermining Global Alliances, One Exit at a Time [1]
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Date: 2025-06-23
In an era where global influence hinges as much on perception as power, the most dangerous battles aren’t waged on conventional battlefields. They unfold in trade negotiations, diplomatic summits, climate accords—and often, on social media. The Trump administration’s foreign and economic policies—whether born of ideology, ignorance, or something more insidious—consistently diminished U.S. leadership on the world stage and opened the door for adversaries like Russia, China, and Iran to advance their strategic aims.
This wasn’t simply “America First” myopia. Increasingly, it looks like America played directly into the hands of hostile regimes—some of which have long sought to weaken the West not with tanks or missiles, but with psychological operations, disinformation, and destabilization campaigns. Whether by design or disastrous coincidence, many Trump-era decisions mirror the objectives of our adversaries.
Undermining Global Alliances, One Exit at a Time
Under President Trump, the United States withdrew from nearly every international agreement that bolstered Western unity and global credibility. From the Paris Climate Accord to the Iran nuclear deal (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA) to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the pattern was clear: isolate the U.S. while empowering rivals.
The exit from the TPP handed Beijing a geopolitical gift—free rein to expand its Belt and Road Initiative across Asia. The abandonment of the JCPOA fractured transatlantic relations and emboldened Iran, while the climate withdrawal gave China and the EU the opportunity to claim leadership in the fight against global warming.
Operation Midnight Hammer: A Strike with Consequences
On June 22, 2025, in coordination with Israeli forces, the Trump administration launched a major aerial operation targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer,” the strike hit three primary sites—Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan—using stealth bombers, bunker-buster bombs, and submarine-launched missiles. It was announced with characteristic fanfare by Trump, who hailed it as a “historic blow to the Iranian nuclear threat.”
The official justification was “preventive action,” prompted by intelligence assessments suggesting Iran was weeks away from enriching uranium to weapons-grade levels. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President J.D. Vance characterized the strike as “surgical,” aimed solely at halting proliferation. Critics, however, pointed out the lack of international consensus, Congressional approval, and any diplomatic engagement prior to the operation.
Knowledge, Not Concrete, Sustains Iran’s Nuclear Future
What the strike did not do was change the trajectory of Iran’s nuclear intentions. In fact, Iran had already begun enriching uranium beyond 60% purity well before the U.S. attack. Since 2021, following the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA, Iran gradually increased its enrichment, amassing over 400 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium by mid-2025—enough for multiple weapons if further refined.
The June 22 strikes damaged physical infrastructure, particularly at Natanz and Fordow, temporarily degrading centrifuge arrays and slowing visible progress. But it did not eliminate Iran’s nuclear capabilities. The most critical components—expertise, dispersed centrifuge sites, and deep-buried facilities—remain largely intact.
Following the attack, Iran ceased cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, blocked inspections, and vowed to “rebuild and accelerate.” Analysts warn that the attack may have shortened the time to “breakout” by pushing Iran to disperse and harden its program. Far from stopping a weapon, the strike may have catalyzed a more covert and determined pursuit of one.
Strategic Realignment: Iran Between Beijing and Moscow
The broader geopolitical consequences of the strike are already unfolding. Iran’s alignment with Russia and especially China has deepened. While Russia condemned the strike and reiterated support under a new “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” its material backing remains limited due to entanglement in Ukraine and economic constraints.
China, on the other hand, has been far more consequential. Under a 25-year strategic agreement signed in 2021, China has provided Iran with infrastructure investments, technological assistance, and a lifeline for oil exports—purchasing nearly 2 million barrels per day despite sanctions. Following the strike, Beijing issued a rare direct warning to Washington, calling the attack “an illegal act of aggression” and reaffirmed its intention to protect its economic interests in Iran.
This tightening alliance serves China's interests well. With the U.S. increasingly isolated from both Tehran and its European allies, China now commands greater leverage across Central Asia and the Persian Gulf—bolstering its Belt and Road ambitions and securing energy corridors.
The Assault on Economic Leadership
Economically, the United States continues to inflict wounds on itself. Trump’s erratic trade wars—especially with allies like Canada, Japan, and the European Union—disrupted supply chains and hurt American industries. The tariffs aimed at China, though politically popular, were poorly executed and failed to curb its unfair trade practices.
Even more damaging was the erosion of the legal frameworks that uphold global commerce. The undermining of the World Trade Organization’s dispute resolution system removed one of the last bastions of international trade stability, benefiting economies like China’s and Russia’s that routinely flout rules. Meanwhile, the administration's hostility toward high-skilled immigration drove top global talent to Canada, Europe, and Australia—nations more than willing to capitalize on our self-inflicted brain drain.
Echoes of Foreign Influence
While direct collusion remains difficult to prove, the parallels between Trump’s policies and Russia’s strategic objectives are alarming. Russian disinformation campaigns in 2016 amplified anti-NATO, anti-immigration, and anti-globalist themes—many of which were later institutionalized under Trump.
The 2016 GOP platform was mysteriously softened on Ukraine. Trump's first impeachment revolved around withholding aid to that very country. His campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, shared internal polling data with a Russian agent. And throughout it all, Trump praised Putin while downplaying Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and Syria.
His Iran policy mirrors this broader pattern—escalation without strategy, isolation of allies, and opportunistic gains by authoritarian regimes. The strike may have temporarily stunned Iran, but it alienated U.S. partners, boosted China's influence, and gave Russia a propaganda win without lifting a finger.
The Cost of Neglect
Some may argue that these were merely misguided policies, not malice. But intent matters less than outcome. The weakening of alliances, the retreat from global leadership, the economic self-sabotage—all served the long-term objectives of regimes that oppose our values and our interests.
In the case of Iran, the Trump administration’s most recent strike has not achieved containment or deterrence. Instead, it has emboldened Tehran, fractured Western unity, and driven Iran into a tighter embrace with China and, to a lesser extent, Russia. The United States now finds itself facing a more aligned, more defiant, and more dangerous adversarial bloc—one increasingly shaped by the economic vision of Beijing and the geopolitical ambitions of Moscow.
America’s adversaries didn’t need to invade. We handed them the spoils by tearing down our institutions, turning on our allies, and sowing chaos at home. This war may have lacked bullets, but it had casualties—credibility, stability, and trust among them.
The real question is: How many seeds were planted that we still don’t recognize? And how many are already beginning to bloom?
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