A World Without the United States Really Has Come

It has been a century since the United States became a superpower. The “America First” dialogue is not just beginning. The United States has long been influencing the world by starting reckless wars and causing disorder in the financial markets in the name of its national interests. However, there is no recollection of a United States that has withdrawn and lost its presence more than it has now.

It can be said that “a world without the United States” really has come. How should we face this new order — no, disorder?

It has been half a year since President Trump’s inauguration. For the media, this is a time for reporting on what has been good and what has been bad.

Unfortunately, the Trump administration is not acquainted with typical discourse. In evaluating its strengths and weaknesses, I do not really understand what it wants to do or who is leading it.

Before and after the launch of this administration, Trump’s every move caught attention from all around the world. There were countries that had someone in place early in the morning to monitor the large number of tweets coming from the United States.

Lately, few posts have been worth reading. The critical point in the first six months of the administration was developing a movement to buy products made in America, but the United States’ manufacturing industry cannot be resurrected to that extent.

Get rid of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Label China a currency manipulator. Repeal the Affordable Care Act. Where did claims like these go? The pledges to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and from the Paris climate agreement are about the only ones that have actually been implemented.

Relations with the main Republican Party are poor and there is almost no driving force for policy. The “Russiagate” scandal has caused the administration to stumble, and now it might not simply be acting recklessly anymore. This presidential term has 3 1/2 years left, but it seems it might end early if it follows this downward curve without doing anything.

According to Gallup’s public opinion poll, Trump’s approval rating was at 39 percent, as of July 16. This is better than the 37 percent recorded in June, but this is not an indication of improvement. There is no longer any use in gauging Trump’s reactions.

What should Japan do? It should deepen relations with principle countries in Europe and Asia, in order to hold back the drifting of the international order, if only by a little.