Eastern European nations grapple with the increasing possibility of US withdrawal from collective defense under a second Trump presidency. Discussions range from appeasing Trump to preparing for US absence, fueled by rhetoric and actions perceived as undermining NATO and allies like Ukraine.
Donald Trump has suspended a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan and signaled a shift away from US defense commitments in Asia, tilting towards Beijing after meeting with Xi Jinping. This move has caused concern among US allies.
Fear of US abandonment is pushing Middle Eastern states to build diplomatic mass rather than integrated military blocs, according to defence analysts. A 'mixed system' is emerging where multilateral formats increasingly handle grand strategic questions while hard security remains dominated by Washington and Tehran's proxy network. Regional powers including Pakistan are pressing for a negotiated settlement to the Iran war, with Islamabad playing mediator between Tehran and Washington and serving as trusted representative for regional partners, particularly Riyadh.
