JUNE TEUFEL DREYER is Professor of Political Science at the University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, where she teaches courses on China, U.S. defense policy, and international relations. Professor Dreyer has lectured to, and taught a course for, National Security Agency analysts, consults for organizations including the National Geographic and Centra Technology. She is a senior fellow of the Foreign Policy Research Institute and a member of International Institute for Strategic Studies. In an interview with our Magazine, she answered our questions like the following:

Gulan: What are the new priorities in U.S. diplomacy under the Trump administration, and how do they reflect the changing global order?

Dr. JUNE TEUFEL DREYER: Trump’s ‘Make America Great Again’ is useful as a slogan but will have to have substance before it can address the problems keeping America (in Trump’s opinion) less than great before he got elected.  He is convinced, with good reason, that other countries have been free-riding on Pax Americana while being unwilling to provide for their own defense or, in the case of China, subsidizing domestic industries so as to allow their products to be sold below market value, destroy American industries, and create a huge imbalance in trade that favors China

Gulan: In what ways has the Trump administration shifted U.S. policy toward China, especially regarding trade and security concerns? 

Dr. JUNE TEUFEL DREYER:  With regard to trade, Trump has imposed high tariffs, leading China imposing counter-tariffs. It will be a while before we see the results of this tit-for-tat, and Trump, a mercurial personality, could change his mind, as he has with Mexico.  As for security, he promised to revive the American shipbuilding industry, which has indeed been allowed to deteriorate---in some cases, the experts have retired, which no one to replace them, and a lack of trained people to fill the openings. And build new weapons, with emphasis on hi-tech R&D and cyberspace.  Also give the military a substantial pay raise.  Since the US has an all-volunteer, it’s imperative that salaries be commensurate with the civilian sector. But will the 2026 defense budget reflect these new priorities?  Americans, like others, object to paying higher taxes, even for worthy causes.  Trump hopes that Elon Musk’s DOGE can save enough money to pay for increased defense, but the courts have blocked many of Musk’s initiatives.  Also, there is the security of America’s southern border, which requires illegal immigrants to be sent back.  It’s expensive, too.   Then there is the security of the Panama Canal, which Trump rightly worries about.  It would seem that he has won a commitment from the president of Panama that the contract of Hutchison-Whampoa, theoretically a private Hong Kong company but actually controlled by Beijing, won’t be renewed

Gulan:  In your view, what are the main elements of the “strategic ambiguity” approach that successive US administrations have adopted, and do you think it can succeed and endure during the second Trump administration?

Dr. JUNE TEUFEL DREYER:  No one knows what Trump will do, and he is known to change his mind. So, he will continue to be ambiguous.  I believe he finally understands the importance of Taiwan to US defense both in terms of advanced chip manufacturing and its strategic location.  But there’s always the possibility that, since he is very proud of himself as a deal-maker, he’ll try to make a deal with Xi Jinping.

Gulan: What changes in the U.S.-Russia relationship have occurred under the new Trump administration, and how are they impacting global security dynamics, especially with regard to Russia-Ukraine war? 

Dr. JUNE TEUFEL DREYER: At the moment, Trump seems think he can end the war in Ukraine by making a deal with Putin while essentially telling the EU that if it wants to defend Ukraine, it will have to do so without the US.  This could be a goad to get them to contribute more, which Trump can then say is a victory for his policy.  Which it would be.

Gulan: How has the Trump administration's "America First" policy influenced its international trade agreements and partnerships?  

Dr. JUNE TEUFEL DREYER: It’s trying to drive hard bargains, but other countries are countering with strategies of their own.  Too early to say what the outcome will be.

Gulan:  What role does economic competition and technological rivalry (such as AI) play in the Trump administration's international relations strategy? 

Dr. JUNE TEUFEL DREYER:  Trump is all about competition, and he is aware of the role AI and other technological advances play in this.  Replacing DEI with merit as the criterion for education and promotion will be an important part of this.  But our educational institutions are already figuring out ways to subvert this---replacing DEI with “creating a culture of inclusivism” is the new buzzword.  Still, it may have a positive effect, even if not as much as Trump wants.