Trump’s proposed changes to U.S. development finance—prioritizing domestic interests, unilateralism, and extractive projects over sustainability—could weaken America’s global influence. Unlike Biden’s multilateral partnerships, Trump’s transactional approach risks alienating allies and ceding clean energy leadership to China. The U.S. may lose ground in the Global South by abandoning inclusive, high-quality investments that counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
There is no credible way for the United States to seal itself off from the effects of China’s actions.
COMMENTARY
The purpose and promise of China’s International Organization for Mediation
If IOMed proves to be effective, it will be a serious competitor to the existing international dispute settlement mechanisms.
AI’s massive energy demand could make nuclear power essential, but China leads in rapid reactor construction while US faces regulatory hurdles—SMRs may help, but their viability remains unproven.
To improve U.S. shipbuilding capacity, policymakers should learn from a successful shipbuilding program of the past, using public investment, guaranteed demand, and cooperation with the private sector to create good jobs and bolster competitiveness.
The U.S. should defuse tensions with Beijing to prevent war over the faraway island.
The United States and China narrowly avoided a trade war by agreeing to a ninety-day pause on steep tariffs. The truce is not a bona fide trade deal, but the stage is now set for serious negotiations on a potentially broader and longer-term agreement.
China’s trade surplus is rising. China’s reported current account surplus is rising even faster.
Advances in 6G seem set to produce yet another technological transformation—one the U.S. must meet with proactive leadership, not a defensive stance.
This could be the most volatile geopolitical moment in the Indo-Pacific since World War II. Extreme uncertainty surrounding the Trump administration’s policies is prompting U.S. allies and partners alike to explore the possibility of relying less on the United States and pivoting more toward China.