Why a Strong America Is (Still) in the Indo-Pacific’s Interest

Over two months into office, the Trump administration’s drive to challenge the status quo – both domestically and on the foreign policy front – continues at a rapid pace. There are no sacred cows, and the pace of change has been remarkable. U.S. actions have pushed governments across the Indo-Pacific to reassess not only how to engage with the new leadership in Washington, but also their own foreign policy interests and strategies to pursue their visions.

What has remained unchanged, though, is that a strong America remains in the interests of U.S. allies and partners across the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

The United States is the world’s most prosperous country, representing over a quarter of the global GDP. It is no accident that hiccups in the U.S. economy hurt the performance of global financial markets, and that signs of solid U.S. growth rally bourses worldwide. In that sense, President Donald Trump’s rallying cry for a “golden age” for the United States is a welcome one, insofar as a stronger U.S. performance is expected to buoy performance beyond U.S. borders. A more prosperous America has traditionally not precluded other nations from flourishing but rather has led to greater growth across the globe.

At the same time, it is also in interest of the United States to see the Indo-Pacific continue on its trajectory for growth. As Washington looks to countries worldwide – including its treaty allies in the Indo-Pacific – to bolster their defense spending, the most effective way to ensure greater security commitment from the region would be to boost economic development for all – rather than fostering a mindset where growth is seen as a zero-sum game.

What’s more, the United States’ economic security goals are best pursued together with other advanced economies, especially from Northeast Asia. China has had no qualms about leveraging its economic hegemony for political gain, and coercion by authoritarian governments is only expected to increase. As Washington pursues greater efficiencies and cost effectiveness, working together with governments that share the interests of the United States in pushing back against coercion makes good economic sense.

Perhaps most importantly, as Washington harkens back to the past for guidance and inspirations for greatness, the success that the United States has had in bolstering the global economy cannot be forgotten. At the end of World War II, the U.S. together with its allies, including France and Britain, had emerged victorious. Yet the strains of war on western Europe were clear, and U.S. support through concerted, deliberate efforts for reconstruction was critical for global stability. Washington’s strategy to rebuild Europe extended to former allies and foes alike and was widely successful. Similarly, Washington’s investments in Japan laid the foundation for the country’s steady path toward economic success in the decades to follow.

The Trump administration argues that continued U.S. support is no longer needed to boost global growth, given the decreasing divide between the United States and the rest of the world, especially among advanced and emerging economies. But the investments that Washington made to restore stability and prosperity in a war-shattered world were the bedrock of international perceptions of the United States as a power for good. In addition to putting the global economy on a path back to recovery, ambitious investment plans by Washington have been at the heart of shaping U.S. soft power and its influence in the world.

As countries across the Indo-Pacific look to reshape their relations with the United States, Washington too will be reassessing its ties with key partners and allies in the region. What will remain unchanged is that continued economic expansion both within and outside of the United States will be in the U.S. interest in the longer term.