Donald Trump’s allies are now promising Japan and South Korea that their beloved ex-president will suddenly become the champion of Biden’s three-way alliance aimed at countering China and North Korea. Yes, you read that right. The same Trump who had a smash-mouth approach to traditional alliances is now supposedly all about cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. This revelation comes courtesy of five insiders privy to these conversations.
Why It Matters
For the past few weeks, Trump’s policy advisers have been in contact with officials in Seoul and Tokyo. Their message? If Trump regains office, he’ll support Japan and South Korea in mending their once-frosty relations and promoting military, economic, and diplomatic cooperation to ease global tensions. This sudden diplomatic charm offensive comes straight from Republicans and officials from these Asian nations, some of whom were directly involved in these discussions.
This effort is part of a broader push by Trump’s team to reassure America’s closest friends in Asia that the days of his alliance-bashing are over—at least when it comes to the Indo-Pacific. The region, after all, is teetering with heightened tensions over Taiwan, the South China Sea, and the burgeoning bromance between China and Russia. Let’s not forget Putin’s cozy relationship with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.
Fred Fleitz, a former chief of staff in Trump’s National Security Council, recently met with Japan’s national security adviser Takeo Akiba. Fleitz reassured Japanese officials that Trump understands the importance of working closely with allies to defend their interests. Apparently, this newfound commitment to alliances is supposed to make up for Biden’s latest debate disaster, which might push undecided voters towards Trump.
These reassurances include grand plans for a Ukraine peace deal and a restructured NATO funding scheme, though the Trump campaign hasn’t officially confirmed these. Trump’s senior adviser Chris LaCivita clarified that no one has the authority to make promises on Trump’s behalf to foreign governments. Fleitz insists he’s just sharing his seasoned insights, suggesting the U.S., Japan, and South Korea will collaborate against China and North Korea under another Trump term.
Meetings have been aplenty, with right-wing think tanks like the America First Policy Institute, the Heritage Foundation, and the Hudson Institute scheming potential policies for a second Trump presidency. An Asian official involved in these discussions believes these meetings reflect plausible Trump strategies.
So, what’s the deal with Trump’s second-term plans? It appears Trump’s allies are already hard at work sketching policy priorities well before the 2024 election. This time, they want to avoid the global surprise that followed Trump’s 2016 victory, which left allies scrambling to decode his hastily formed views.
What They Are saying
Conservative think tanks like “Project 2025” are crafting detailed plans for a potential Trump comeback, labeling South Korea and Japan as “critical allies.” However, they also aim to push South Korea to take more responsibility for its defense against North Korea, reflecting Trump’s reluctance to bear too much financial burden for others’ security.
Interestingly, this outreach to Asia represents a rare point of continuity between Trump and Biden. While Biden has focused on strengthening traditional alliances, Trump’s new narrative seems to support the same. Biden facilitated a summit at Camp David last summer with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, emphasizing defense cooperation amid threats from North Korea and China.
Senator Bill Hagerty, former ambassador to Japan and a potential Trump second-term appointee, echoes this sentiment, believing stronger economic ties among the U.S., Japan, and South Korea will bolster their bonds.
In Seoul and Tokyo, where officials are wary of a potential Trump return, these Republican reassurances are a welcome change from Trump’s previous hard-nosed tactics. With Biden and Trump neck and neck in the polls, and Yoon and Kishida grappling with low approval ratings, the future of trilateral cooperation remains uncertain.
South Korea’s foreign ministry insists on the necessity of this tripartite effort, backed by bipartisan support in the U.S. Japan’s foreign ministry also upholds the alliance’s bipartisan support but avoids commenting on U.S. elections. Spokespeople for the Biden campaign and the White House have remained silent on the matter.
Alexander Gray, former chief of staff of Trump’s National Security Council, dismisses concerns that Trump would abandon Biden’s initiatives. According to Gray, the idea that Trump would discard these efforts just because Biden started them is unfounded.
Bottom Line
So, there you have it—a perplexing, yet somehow unsurprising twist in the saga of Trump’s international diplomacy. Whether this new approach will hold if Trump retakes the White House is anyone’s guess. But for now, let’s enjoy the irony.
