Examining Impact Of Trump Policies On Russia-China Geopolitical Cooperation – OpEd
President Donald Trump’s foreign policy aimed to counter China’s rise by attempting a “reverse Nixon” strategy seeking to align with Russia to isolate Beijing. However, this approach has inadvertently strengthened the Russia-China partnership.
Trump’s conciliatory stance toward the Kremlin, coupled with aggressive policies toward traditional U.S. allies, has not driven a wedge between Moscow and Beijing. Instead, it has reinforced their strategic alignment, as both nations share mutual interests in challenging U.S. dominance and have deepened economic and military cooperation. This miscalculation overlooks the robust and pragmatic ties between Russia and China, making the “reverse Nixon” strategy ineffective and counterproductive
China-Russia Alliance Grows Amid Shifts in U.S. Foreign Policy
In May, Moscow became the stage for a striking illustration of the deepening China-Russia alliance. For only the second time in history, Chinese troops participated in Russia’s May 9 Victory Day parade, symbolizing growing military solidarity. The presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping at the event further emphasized this message. While the parade traditionally commemorates the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany, this year’s display carried broader geopolitical significance. It was a clear signal of the strengthening strategic partnership between Beijing and Moscow, unified not only by shared interests but by their joint resistance to U.S. global influence. The display served as a pointed message to Washington especially to President Trump whose policies had aimed to divide these two powers. Instead of driving a wedge, Trump’s foreign policy has contributed to closer China-Russia alignment, now increasingly visible through such symbolic and diplomatic gestures that underline their opposition to American hegemony.
President Trump’s consistent overtures to Vladimir Putin have not curbed Russian aggression but have instead signalled a troubling lack of accountability. His public alignment with Putin most notably during the 2018 Helsinki summit projected deference rather than deterrence. More recently, Trump has advocated for ending the war in Ukraine by halting U.S. military aid and pushing for a negotiated settlement without requiring Russia to withdraw. This approach suggests a willingness to reward aggression with diplomatic concessions, reinforcing the perception that acts of force can yield political gains. By favoring leniency toward Moscow while pressuring Ukraine to accept unfavourable terms, Trump has undermined Western unity and emboldened the Kremlin. Rather than imposing meaningful consequences, his strategy prioritizes expedient “deals” over long-term stability and justice, sending a message that U.S. support for international norms is conditional and inconsistent thereby weakening deterrence and global confidence in American leadership.
Trump’s Policies Weaken U.S. Alliances and Empower China
Trump’s approach to NATO and his rhetoric on European security have alarmed key U.S. allies, particularly in Eastern Europe. His stance is viewed as both ethically troubling and strategically dangerous, suggesting that American security commitments are no longer reliable. At a time when Europe faces its greatest military threat since the Cold War, such signals have created uncertainty and fear among NATO members. By simultaneously weakening U.S. credibility and promoting a misguided strategy of disengagement, Trump has inadvertently emboldened adversaries. The Kremlin now perceives that it can gain ground through aggression without facing serious consequences, while China interprets America’s retreat as an opportunity to expand its influence globally. In trying to reduce geopolitical tensions through transactional diplomacy, Trump has instead disrupted the strategic balance and diminished U.S. leadership. This has led to a growing power vacuum, increasing instability and weakening the deterrence posture the United States has upheld for decades.
Trump appears to overlook the deeper strategic alignment between Russia and China, which is driven not by short-term interests but by a shared goal of reshaping the global order to diminish U.S. influence. Both regimes aim to weaken American leadership, undermine liberal institutions, and challenge democratic norms. Contrary to Trump’s belief that either country could be pulled away from the other, any real realignment would likely require the U.S. to forfeit its global role a shift that Trump is inadvertently advancing. Through his neglect of alliances, conciliatory stance toward autocrats, and internal divisions, he is facilitating the very decline adversaries seek.
President Trump’s imposition of aggressive tariffs on European and Asian goods, including those from NATO allies, has strained transatlantic economic relations. These measures have prompted European nations to seek diversified economic partnerships, often turning towards China. This shift undermines Washington’s efforts to present a united economic front against Beijing. European leaders, wary of Trump’s confrontational diplomacy, have become more receptive to engaging with China on trade, technology, and infrastructure initiatives. Consequently, China is positioning itself as a proponent of globalization and a rules-based international order, despite its authoritarian governance and strategic ambitions. This realignment not only weakens U.S. influence but also challenges the cohesion of traditional Western alliances. The unintended consequence of Trump’s tariff policies is a bolstered China-Europe relationship, which complicates efforts to counterbalance China’s global ascendancy. Trump’s protectionist policies, originally intended to curb China’s global economic ascent, have paradoxically strengthened Beijing’s strategic position particularly in Europe and the Global South. By imposing tariffs and adopting a confrontational trade stance even toward longstanding allies, the Trump administration has alienated key partners whose cooperation is vital in countering China’s influence. These unilateral economic measures have strained traditional alliances and driven many nations to reassess their global partnerships.
In Europe, frustration with Trump’s transactional diplomacy and lack of coordination has encouraged deeper engagement with China in areas such as infrastructure, trade, and technology. Simultaneously, countries in the Global South traditionally recipients of U.S. development aid and security cooperation are increasingly turning to China for investment and support, drawn by the promise of non-interference and accessible financing under initiatives like the Belt and Road. Rather than isolating China, Trump’s actions have complicated efforts to build a broad, values-based coalition grounded in democratic norms, human rights, and rule-based international trade.
This coalition is essential to counter China’s growing clout and challenge its model of authoritarian capitalism. However, by undermining trust among allies and appearing inconsistent in its global commitments, the U.S. under Trump has weakened the very alliances it needs. Ultimately, the unintended consequence of Trump’s economic nationalism is the erosion of American leadership in favor of a more assertive China, which continues to expand its influence in regions where the U.S. once held a decisive edge.
Trump’s Strategy Misreads Russia-China Alliance, Risks Undermining U.S. Leadership
Trump’s belief that Russia can be diplomatically distanced from China is based on a misreading of current geopolitical realities. The assumption that their partnership is one of mere convenience fails to account for the depth and strategic alignment between the two nations. Russia and China are not just cooperating tactically they are bound by a shared ambition to reshape the global order in ways that diminish Western influence and promote authoritarian governance models over liberal democratic norms. Their partnership extends well beyond diplomacy. Military cooperation has intensified through joint exercises and defense coordination, while energy deals have solidified long-term economic interdependence. Diplomatically, both states routinely support each other in multilateral institutions like the UN, working to block Western-led initiatives and promote sovereignty-first doctrines. This robust strategic alignment marks the strongest level of cooperation between Moscow and Beijing since the early Cold War period in the 1950s.
Trump’s strategy of appeasing Russia while attempting to isolate China overlooks this deep-rooted synergy. Such efforts assume that Moscow can be lured westward through concessions and normalization, but this approach ignores Russia’s clear pivot toward authoritarian alignment with China. Attempting to sever the Sino-Russian partnership through unilateral gestures risks emboldening both adversaries. Rather than weakening the axis, this tactic may signal disunity and strategic confusion within the West. The idea of decoupling Russia from China through appeasement is not only unrealistic but potentially dangerous, undermining Western leverage and accelerating the erosion of the liberal international order.
To effectively pursue his goal of containing China in a potential second term, Trump would need a significant strategic recalibration. Central to this shift is abandoning the unrealistic notion that the United States can forge a strategic partnership with Vladimir Putin’s Russia. The current approach, marked by mixed signals and inconsistent policies, has eroded U.S. credibility both among allies and adversaries. To restore influence, Trump must clearly reaffirm a commitment to deterring Russian aggression, particularly in the ongoing Ukraine conflict, rather than seeking to freeze the war in a way that rewards Moscow. Additionally, Trump’s aggressive tariff policies have alienated crucial allies in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, weakening the very coalitions essential to counterbalancing China’s expanding influence. Rebuilding economic and diplomatic ties with these partners is vital. Strengthening transatlantic and Indo-Pacific relationships would enhance a unified front capable of confronting Beijing’s strategic ambitions. This includes supporting shared values such as democratic governance, rule of law, and open trade. Without this recalibration, Trump risks continuing a fragmented approach that undermines American leadership and emboldens adversaries. To succeed, a future Trump administration must pursue a coherent, alliance-cantered strategy one that rejects appeasement of authoritarian regimes and instead prioritizes durable partnerships, collective security, and robust economic cooperation. Only through such a course can the United States effectively check China’s rise and restore its global standing.
Effectively countering the growing ambitions of Beijing and Moscow requires a united front that combines military strength, economic cooperation, and shared ideological commitment. This alliance must be built on a foundation of trust, mutual interests, and a collective vision to uphold the liberal international order. Without such cohesion, efforts to contain the rising influence of China and Russia are likely to falter. Trump’s current approach fails to recognize this fundamental reality. By pursuing policies that alienate allies, signal inconsistency, and offer concessions to adversaries, his administration inadvertently strengthens the very forces it aims to constrain.
The lack of a coordinated strategy undermines the ability of the United States and its partners to present a credible deterrent or an effective alternative to the authoritarian models promoted by Moscow and Beijing. Moreover, the fragmentation of alliances diminishes the global influence of the United States, eroding its leadership role on the world stage. Without solidarity among democratic nations, the appeal and power of liberal values decline, creating space for authoritarian powers to expand their reach. For American foreign policy to succeed, it must embrace collaboration across all dimensions’ military alliances to ensure security, economic partnerships to sustain prosperity, and ideological unity to champion democracy and human rights. Until Trump and policymakers internalize this imperative, their strategies risk further empowering adversaries, deepening international divisions, and accelerating the relative decline of U.S. influence in global affairs. Only through unity can the challenge posed by Beijing and Moscow be effectively confronted and managed.
Conclusion
Donald Trump’s foreign policy, characterized by a transactional approach and a focus on unilateralism, has inadvertently strengthened the strategic partnership between Russia and China. His attempts to realign global alliances by engaging Russia to counterbalance China have overlooked the deep-rooted and multifaceted cooperation between Moscow and Beijing. This partnership, grounded in shared interests and mutual opposition to Western influence, has been further solidified through joint military exercises, economic agreements, and coordinated diplomatic efforts in international institutions.
Trump’s policies, including the imposition of tariffs on traditional allies and a perceived retreat from established commitments, have strained transatlantic relations and undermined the cohesion of Western alliances. Consequently, European nations have sought to diversify their partnerships, increasingly engaging with China in areas such as trade, technology, and infrastructure. This shift not only challenges U.S. efforts to present a united front against Beijing but also complicates the broader strategy to contain China’s global ascendancy. Moreover, Trump’s conciliatory stance toward autocratic leaders and his neglect of traditional alliances have signaled a diminishing U.S. commitment to the liberal international order. To effectively counter the growing influence of authoritarian powers, the United States must reaffirm its dedication to multilateralism, strengthen its alliances, and promote a coherent strategy that upholds democratic values and international norms. Without such a recalibration, U.S. foreign policy risks further empowering adversaries and eroding its global leadership position.
