In 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine, then-President Joe Biden effectively rallied Western democracies, swiftly crushing Russia’s ambitions. This strategy not only contained Russia but also kept authoritarian China in check, achieving a dual benefit.
At the time, international relations experts praised the U.S., saying it was acting like America again.
However, under the Donald Trump administration, the U.S. has adopted an extreme America First policy, straining relationships with allies and loosening its grip on containing China. This approach has inadvertently expanded China’s sphere of influence.
Canada has already begun to improve its relations with China. The European Union (EU) also appears likely to follow suit.
Let’s start with Canada. Traditionally, the U.S. and Canada were close allies. However, after Trump imposed a 35% tariff on Canadian goods, their relationship rapidly deteriorated, prompting Canada to seek better relations with China, a country it previously viewed with hostility.
On January 16, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited China. In a significant move, China reduced tariffs on Canadian agricultural products, including canola oil, while Canada slashed its tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles from 100% to 6%.
What’s even more remarkable is the dramatic turnaround in Canada-China relations from their historically lowest point.
In 2018, Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, then-Vice Chair of Huawei, and extradited her to the U.S. This incident led to a rapid cooling of relations between the two countries.
However, as the U.S. imposed heavy tariffs on Canada, Canada sought to improve its relationship with China, resulting in a dramatic reversal in Canada-China relations.
Following Canada’s lead, the EU is also likely to pursue better relations with China, largely due to Trump’s ambitions to annex Greenland. Trump has overtly expressed his desire to acquire Greenland by imposing additional 10% tariffs on the eight European countries that have deployed troops there.
The conflict over Greenland has escalated into a full-blown tariff war between the U.S. and Europe.
This situation poses a significant threat to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which has been the foundation of global peace since World War II. If the U.S. annexes Greenland, it would be tantamount to invading Europe, despite previously agreeing to defend it.
Europe is responding strongly to Trump’s actions. Reports indicate that the EU plans to retaliate against Trump’s additional tariffs with 108 billion USD in counter-tariffs.
The rift between the U.S. and Europe is widening, and China stands to benefit the most from this situation.
Europe, in particular, holds the deciding vote in the U.S.-China power struggle. If Europe tilts toward China, it could isolate the U.S. on the international diplomatic stage rather than China.
As the U.S. and China engage in a power struggle, the U.S. should be uniting its allies rather than alienating even its existing friends through extreme America First policies.
Deng Xiaoping, the architect of China’s reform and opening-up, often described as a political genius, famously summarized politics as maximizing friends and minimizing enemies.
The same principle applies to international politics, especially in the context of the current U.S.-China power struggle.