As malignant narcissist and would-be despot Donald "Rump" Trump pursues spiteful international relations that damage our allies and reward our adversaries, our allies are struggling with how to protect themselves in Rump's toxic wake. Our European allies have already taken note of Rump's hostility to their democratic governments and their economies, while he acts as Russia's agent and promoter. Rump's photo-op session with North Korea's murderous dictator Kim Jong-un in Singapore was notable in how much Rump gave away for nothing more than the vaguest commitment from North Korea to "denuclearize," something that they have promised for years but won't do because their status and existence depends on possessing nuclear weapons. Rump's been effusive in his praise for Kim following the session, saying things like Kim was "talented," "loved by his people," and other over-the-top nonsense.
Japan, our key ally in Asia and one of our closest allies in the world, has noticed Rump's proclivity for splashy events that lack real substance, and is concerned about its relationship with the U.S. From Reuters:
"Trump’s summit last week with North Korean leader Kim Jung Un failed to address Japanese security concerns such as a missile program that Tokyo sees as a direct threat. Japan’s defense establishment was also taken aback by the U.S. president saying he would halt 'expensive' military exercises with South Korea that have long been seen in Tokyo as a deterrent to North Korea’s threats.Rump's "transactional" approach to every relationship (marriages and affairs too) is grounded in his infantile psyche that demands approval from others, even if that approval is clearly false and meant to flatter his damaged ego. That's why you see him engaging in schoolyard taunting and language one minute and, after a "nice" word or two from his adversary, folding like Trump University and showering praise on the adversary the next minute. It's all about how Rump is treated, and he must be treated "nicely."
'The alliance has changed from one based on shared values to a transactional alliance,' Katsuyuki Kawai, a ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lawmaker who advises Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on foreign affairs, told Reuters." (our emphasis)
The upshot of this will be allies distancing themselves from us, being reluctant to share intelligence with us, being less likely to join us in military efforts, and unwilling to follow our lead on matters of human rights. With Rump using tariffs to punish our closest allies, that separation will only widen, and may take years, if not decades, to repair.
