The Foreign Affairs Interview

Understanding How Trump Sees the World

80 snips
May 8, 2025
Nadia Schadlow, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and former deputy national security adviser, dives into the complexities of Trump's foreign policy. She discusses the lasting impact of the 2017 National Security Strategy and its focus on great-power competition, particularly with China. Schadlow also explores the challenges in U.S. foreign policy with countries like Ukraine and North Korea. She highlights the need for innovative approaches in military production and the importance of balancing humanitarian aid with national security priorities.
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INSIGHT

Enduring Great Power Competition Framework

  • Trump's 2017 National Security Strategy marked a significant shift focusing on great power competition, especially with China.
  • This framework showed remarkable durability across different administrations and political parties.
INSIGHT

No End State in Competition

  • Great power competition is a permanent condition without a final end state.
  • Focus should be on protecting, deterring, and leveraging alliances rather than trying to fundamentally change rivals.
INSIGHT

Complex Adversary Coordination

  • Coordination among adversaries like Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran complicates U.S. strategic challenges.
  • These relationships are pragmatic, aimed at creating dilemmas rather than ideological alignment.
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