Donald Trump is making good on his promise of “America First.” After admonishing US allies for failing to pay their “fair share” of defence costs and a now infamous meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the message was clear: America’s friendship was a privilege, not a right. If US partners wanted to enjoy the privilege of US security, then they must pay up. And right now, Washington is looking to collect. For the Philippines, this transactional approach to foreign policy casts a shadow over its territorial dispute with China. Despite continued optimism from policy elites, the use of formerly cooperative arrangements as tools of coercion should give Manila pause. While the strategic value of the Philippines as a forward operating base means it continues to enjoy Washington’s good graces, the onus is on the Marcos Jr. administration to continuously reaffirm this value – or risk abandonment in a Trump-polar world.
A Ukraine-model deal in the South China Sea? | Lowy Institute
