U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said today: “America First means that we will always place what is in America’s interest first. We will prioritize American interests above the United Nations, above global public goods—whatever you want to call it—the long-standing international order many have championed here. We are not opposed to these institutions or principles; we simply will no longer place them ahead of American interests. That is exactly what the president is doing.”
Commentary: The shift toward “America First” is driven primarily by domestic pressures. Many American voters feel that for decades, the United States has borne the burden of upholding the global order, investing heavily in resources and personnel, only to see domestic manufacturing hollowed out, public debt rise, and median household incomes stagnate. Conservative voices argue that the old globalist approach has yielded diminishing returns. Trump’s adoption of this governing philosophy reflects an effort to appeal to this constituency and secure electoral support. At the same time, the United States’ relative decline in power has reduced its capacity and willingness to indefinitely shoulder the costs of global governance. The strategy now is to scale back expenditures, redirect resources domestically—a calculated retreat aimed at preserving hegemony through strategic consolidation. From an external perspective, this stance does not seek to dismantle the international order outright but demands that institutions like the United Nations and multilateral mechanisms serve U.S. interests. It resists further concessions on behalf of global public goods. Simultaneously, the United States aims to compel allies to contribute more financially and operationally, shifting the burden of maintaining order and security outward.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879266522170378/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author.