Trump's America First risks ceding more ground to China in Pacific

Without coordination with allies like Australia, Washington may fall further behind

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U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, right, meets with Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, left, at the Pentagon, Aug. 2024 in Washington. © AP

Alexandre Dayant is a senior economist and deputy director of the Indo-Pacific Development Centre at the Lowy Institute. Riley Duke is a research fellow working on the Lowy Institute Pacific Aid Map.

Donald Trump's reelection and the return of his America First approach will inject new uncertainty into U.S. foreign policy. While his hardline stance on China will likely persist, the U.S. is already losing ground in the Pacific, where Beijing is regaining influence through its development projects as U.S. engagement falters.

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