The Foreign Affairs Interview The Strength of Trump’s Foreign Policy
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Nov 13, 2025 Robert O'Brien, former U.S. national security advisor, shares insights into Trump's foreign policy trajectory. He discusses the evolving stance on China, emphasizing a pragmatic approach with a focus on supply chains and a temporary pause in confrontation. O'Brien covers strategies in Venezuela to combat drug trafficking, Trump's proposed settlement for the Ukraine conflict, and the complex dynamics with India. He also examines how Trump's governance style has matured, advocating for national sovereignty and nonintervention while stressing the need for economic pressure on adversaries.
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Strategic Pause With China
- Trump's second-term China approach pauses direct confrontation to handle other global crises while keeping core hardline tools in place.
- O'Brien argues strategic ambiguity and a personal rapport with Xi reduce risk of immediate conflict over Taiwan.
Rare Earths Are A Critical Leverage Point
- Rare-earths are the key vulnerability in US–China competition because China controls extraction and refining capacity.
- O'Brien stresses building both extraction and domestic refining to break China's leverage.
Subsidize Rare-Earth Supply Chains Now
- Governments must subsidize and incentivize rare-earth extraction and processing to counteract Chinese dumping tactics.
- O'Brien predicts a competitive rare-earth industry will emerge within three years if states act.
