There is no “kill switch” on the F-35 fighter, an Australian air force official confirmed recently to media. Fears that such a thing might exist surfaced after the 47th American president gushed over the USA’s developmental, sixth-generation F-47 fighter, saying, “We’ll sell our allies toned-down military planes because, someday, maybe they’re not our allies.”
President Donald Trump’s self-defeating comments unnecessarily alienate would-be buyers, and, as he casts aspersions on long-time allies, Trump is creating alarm over a US implosion.
As the president’s comments demonstrate, is it wise to rely on the USA as a source of military equipment? Will the president sell equipment one day and capriciously withhold it the next? Canada and Portugal are already openly questioning the wisdom of buying F-35s, and Trump’s perfidy may well harm American future defence exports.
Yet perhaps this also presents opportunities for Asia-Pacific defence companies. Take BAE Systems Australia, for example, which is ready to support a potential sale of the Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) to Canada. The two governments are negotiating a deal, with Canada leapfrogging the USA as JORN’s next customer.
South Korea is also in pole position to take advantage of America’s erratic behaviour. Viewed as a non-aligned country able to deliver defence kit quickly, Seoul is already achieving startling export results.
Alarm has grown worldwide about Trump’s unpredictability and vindictiveness, where allies are criticised and traditional foes lauded. Asian and European governments cannot predict Trump’s next fixation as he slaps on irrational tariffs and monetises every irrational demand.
Indeed, under his “America first” policy, can Trump still be relied upon as an ally? A seismic shift is occurring in the geopolitical landscape, and it will have concussive impacts upon Asia. Will the USA fulfil treaty obligations to Japan, the Philippines, South Korea and Taiwan?
Designed to reassure, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth conducted his first Asian tour in March. In the Philippines, he claimed the US military was re-establishing its regional “warrior ethos” under Trump. Next up was Japan, where Hegseth remarked, “Japan is our indispensable partner in deterring communist Chinese military aggression.” He continued, “The US is moving fast…to reestablish deterrence in this region and around the world.”
Yes, a deep-seated scurvy exists, where countries cap defence spending because they rely upon the USA to cover gaps. There is an urgent requirement for nations to eschew this historical dependence and assume greater responsibility for their own defence. Japan is guilty of this, for example.
Europe is awakening from its slumber, as Trump forces NATO to increase support for Ukraine. Indeed, the USA says it is “assuming risk” in Europe by pulling back there so it can reorient to counter China. However, the message Beijing is receiving is that the USA is willing to sacrifice Ukraine on the “America first” altar.
Witness Trump’s treatment of Ukraine’s leader, and the people’s plight, in that shameful White House meeting. China is not deterred by inconsistency and backstabbing. Nor is Asia assured by Trump’s loose-cannonball policies; there is growing realisation the USA has become unreliable. As Singapore’s defence minister recently said, “The US image has changed from liberator, to great disruptor, to a landlord seeking rent.”
In fact, Trump’s hardnosed negotiating seems to stem from narcissistic motives rather than from championing principles like freedom of speech, democracy and rule-of-law adherence. With Trump needlessly threatening the likes of Canada, Greenland and Panama, he is sabotaging longstanding American values. Ruminating upon the annexation – no, invasion – of Greenland, Trump said, “I think it’ll happen. We need that for international security.”
Simultaneously, Trump has not exhibited firmness with either China or Russia. Indeed, those two authoritarian regimes proffer the same arguments as Trump – Moscow says it needs Ukraine to ensure its security, and China hubristically insists upon conquering Taiwan for spurious political reasons. How can one blame power-grabbing Moscow and Beijing when Washington DC vows to do exactly the same thing?
Trump said, “I think that President Xi would like to get along, and I think Russia wants to get along with the United States – we’re a much different country than we were just a few months ago. We’re a country that’s now respected.”
Trump is right about the first part – the USA is a different place now. However, he and his sycophantic sidekicks have misread the room, since respect for the USA has plummeted exponentially around the world. At a time when the USA needs as many strategic allies as possible to counter China, Trump seems intent only on antagonising them.
by Gordon Arthur
