[Column] Trump’s safety racket

US President Donald Trump boards Air Power One at Gimhae Worldwide Airport in Busan on Oct. 30, 2025, after wrapping up a two-day journey to South Korea. (AP/Yonhap)

Again in June of final 12 months, when US President Donald Trump was nonetheless solely operating for workplace, he mentioned one thing attention-grabbing concerning the US’ worldwide position. When requested by a Bloomberg Businessweek reporter about whether or not the US ought to defend Taiwan towards China, Trump responded, “Taiwan ought to pay us for protection.” 

“You already know, we’re no totally different than an insurance coverage firm. Taiwan doesn’t give us something,” he added. 

His rivalry was that the US is taking duty for Taiwan’s safety however that Taiwan isn’t providing something in return, like a buyer who doesn’t pay his insurance coverage payments. 

As with most of Trump’s remarks, these feedback have been a lie and contradictory. Following World Battle II, it’s true that the US provided many “public items” in its reconstruction of the world’s economic system and safety equipment to the advantage of many international locations. These public items embody the institution of a global commerce order and anchor foreign money, the assure of free navigation, and a widespread safety umbrella. 

Nonetheless, it’s additionally true that the “insurance coverage firm” of the US has acquired loads of insurance coverage funds and loved immense earnings. Most international locations on the planet have invested untold sums within the US, turning the US into the world’s monetary hub. This has allowed People to take out loans at low rates of interest and keep a excessive way of life. 

In return for its safety umbrella, the US has acquired cash for stationing its troops and offered its weapons for an immense revenue. Since 1947, the US’ GDP per capita has elevated by 355% as of final 12 months. Even now, the per capita GNI is north of US$85,000, making it the richest nation on the planet. By all accounts, the US has loved a “win-win” association. 

Nonetheless, Trump’s misguided notion is popping into arguments that the US is being “unfairly used” and even “exploited” by its allies. Trump, in fact, hasn’t had a lot to say about how a rustic might turn into the richest nation on the planet, a technological superpower, and benefit from the highest development price amongst superior nations whereas being exploited by its allies. He’s little question conscious of the extreme advantages that the US has loved as a hegemon and is intentionally hiding them. 

It’s additionally a part of his rhetoric to justify his exploitative commerce negotiations designed to carry extra allied wealth to the US. It’s true that the US is affected by large fiscal deficits and the collapse of its conventional manufacturing trade. These are home points to be solved internally. However as a substitute, he’s blaming China and America’s personal allies, levying tariffs, and demanding astronomical investments. On the identical time, he’s decreasing taxes on People. This 12 months’s tax cuts quantity to round US$4.5 trillion.  

Trump is making an attempt to make the most of the US insurance coverage firm’s monopoly to extract excessive charges from its prospects. He’s making an attempt to rake in trillions of received from Korean firms by way of tariffs whereas pressuring the federal government to speculate US$350 billion within the US. That’s not all. He’s demanding extra purchases of US weapons and forcing purchases of US LNG over Center Japanese provides, regardless of American provides being dearer. That is harking back to gangsters demanding safety cash from retailers and implying one thing dangerous will occur in the event that they refuse. 

In alternate for entry to its market and its safety umbrella, the US is demanding trillions in tariff income, and international locations that don’t settle for it won’t have their tariff charges lowered. It’s no exaggeration to name this a safety racket. 

The decision for reconstructing American manufacturing, deterring China, and embarking on an amazing trigger beneath the MAGA slogan could also be honest. Nonetheless, primarily based on what we’ve seen to this point, there is no such thing as a room for allies within the MAGA motion. As a result of they’ve been used and exploited, now they’re trying to acquire. That’s simply what equity means in Trump’s worldview. 

Because of this he’s speaking about Korea’s US$350 billion as if it’s one thing the US is entitled to. The funding might economically weaken a key ally or put it right into a disaster, however he doesn’t appear bothered. Again in September, US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick acknowledged that Japan has to “blow up their stability sheet” to fund its US$550 billion funding within the US. His remarks are an admission of Trump’s angle. Simply because the Plaza Accord of 1985 and the US-Japan chip agreements put the Japanese economic system in a disaster, the US is participating in a zero-sum calculation to weaken opponents economies so it could get a leg up. 

That’s the sport that Trump is taking part in now. That’s the reason the US is destroying one among its largest strengths, its alliance community. Extending an olive department to China whereas punishing allies isn’t going to work. That isn’t the way in which to defeat China, the world’s largest producer and now a army superpower. 

To hedge towards the “US danger,” allies in Asia and Europe are already diversifying their commerce networks and reviewing options within the type of self-reliance in nationwide protection. Does Trump know that Xi Jinping is getting the final chortle?

By Park Hyun, editorial author

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