The Issue

Some believe that “America First” is all that matters.

Our Take

America is only as good as its allies.

President Trump embarked on a 12 day tour of Asia earlier this month to strengthen alliances in the region. The international community was hoping many questions in foreign policy would be answered, yet many are still wondering what the fate of alliances may be.

In the first year of Donald Trump’s presidency, he has already terminated the Trans-Pacific Partnership, voiced out against the U.S.- Korea Free Trade Agreement and attacked the North American Free Trade Agreement.

President Trump promised to put “America First,” and it is finally becoming clear what that might mean for our allies. The Trump administration’s foreign policy resembles that of the 1930’s isolationism, and many security scholars believe that American Isolationism even contributed to the second world war. While Trump’s stance on foreign relations may have contributed to the economic growth, America is only as good as it’s allies.

South Korean President, Moon Jae-in, has told officials that President Trump’s hostile stance on how to deal with North Korea is only threatening the security of the south. Despite the growing tensions in the region, President Trump has repeatedly called for the withdrawal of 80,000 American troops from the region. Our Asian allies perceive this as a step away from security.

In a time of global conflict and rising tensions, we believe that the United States should put more priority into its alliances. Throughout history, the United States has seen just how vital they are; our future may depend on our presence in Asia.

It is imperative that the United States works to strengthen alliances with our Asian partners. As North Korea becomes increasingly dangerous to international security, we must maintain our influence in the region. The United States plays a key role in the fight for world peace, but we can only do so much on our own.