U.S. President Donald Trump's inauguration speech and executive orders pose grave concerns and uncertainties for American allies and partners. His "America First" foreign policy and his withdrawal of the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pact could undermine American credibility sustained by its security and economic commitments in East Asia. Moreover, American soft power as a guardian of universal values and the open and rules-based international order could be lost. Smaller countries might vacillate between the U.S. and China. The consequences could be a disaster.
Since World War II's end, the U.S. has promoted and expanded the international order based on freedom, democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law. As a standard bearer of the liberal international order, the U.S. has safeguarded its allies and promoted both free trade and official development assistance for the sake of peace and prosperity in the world. This vision and strategy remained consistent throughout all the postwar U.S. administrations.
Trump, however, didn't give the world any sign that he would pursue such a role. Instead, his only words echoing through the world are "America first," which he described as "a new decree to be heard in every foreign capital." The open and rules-based international order is at risk of collapse.