Trump's rhetoric shows how his reelection could undo the central promise sustaining the post-World War II order: that the United States will act as an international cavalry, riding to the rescue of allies, or at least seeking to deter autocratic aggressors.
Trump's comments have led Taiwan to consider self-reliance in its defense, indicating that Taiwan very likely could not defend itself from a full-scale invasion on its own.
If the U.S. loses the will to uphold its promise under a second Trump presidency, the entire system of international security could unravel.
Taiwan should pay us for defense, he said in June, sounding less like the potential leader of the free world than a mafioso running a protection racket.
[
Collection
]
[
|
...
]