Opinion | Trump’s amoral deal-making won’t work with Russia or China
Trump’s refusal to consider intrinsic worth blinds him to its existence in others’ world views, potentially leading to greater conflicts
The ceasefire in Gaza has been framed as a crowning achievement in this repertoire. “Together we’ve achieved what everyone said was impossible, but at long last, we have peace in the Middle East,” Trump said.
Can the same strategy used in the Middle East work with Russia. Can it work with China, the United States’ greatest geopolitical rival?
Trump’s diplomatic approach reflects his “America first” world view. American exceptionalism, which places a moral burden on the US to defend freedom and democracy globally, has been replaced with an amoral business mindset which prioritises the best deal for America. It is amoral in the Machiavellian sense, disregarding intrinsic value and regarding all issues only in terms of their cumulative utility. As a consequence, Trump’s foreign policy is freed of moral non-negotiables, enabling him to apply maximum pressure to gain acceptance of his deal.