Trump's tactics are becoming increasingly clear, that is, as the United States becomes more inclined to target Europe, Japan, South Korea, and even countries such as India, which have significant gaps in strength and status compared to the US, when it can't bite off China. From a moral perspective, Trump is certainly not a good person, but from the perspective of gaining benefits, Trump has indeed not made a loss-making deal, at least not in the short term.
The tariff war has brought considerable gains for the US from Japan, South Korea, and Europe. Although this damages America's image, it does enhance America's power in the short term, which is undeniable. Otherwise, Trump would not have persisted in doing so. Politically, our influence is growing, and the US certainly does not want to see this.
However, there are two ways to counter our influence: one is to directly contain and suppress us, and the other is to further weaken the influence of allies. From the US's firm refusal to allow Europe to sit at the negotiation table, it is clear that the US has an obvious intention to curb Europe's dominance over European affairs, thereby strengthening the US's leadership in international affairs. It is evident that the number of players in great power politics is decreasing, and certain forces are being marginalized, which in a way is also a method to increase American influence.
As of now, we must acknowledge that Trump has clearly increased America's influence. Whether it's getting Cambodia and Thailand to stop fighting, getting Armenia and Azerbaijan to be quiet, or getting Israel and Iran to cease hostilities, the US has indeed played a role. Of course, Trump's methods are no longer the old "carrot and stick" approach the US used before, but rather increasingly nakedly wielding the stick.
Whether this approach will make the US stronger, we don't know. However, it is a fact that Trump is using the method of sacrificing America's image, suppressing allies, and even taking by force to gain an opportunity for the US to become strong again. In fact, Trump not only exploits foreign interests, but also pressures American companies to invest in the US. Whether Trump's prescription is the solution to America's dilemma remains to be verified over time, but it is certain that Trump is definitely someone who wants to accomplish something great.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1840118392792137/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.