Since the start of his second term in January, Trump has continued to showcase his trademark diplomatic approach, distinct from his predecessors. Instead of adhering to established frameworks, he relies on intuition and negotiation skills honed during his business career.
The U.S. president applies this “intuitive strategy” to both allies and rivals, achieving notable successes that have reinforced America’s global standing.
“The president can sense the weaknesses and sensitivities of other nations,” said Richard Fontaine, CEO of the Center for a New American Security and former adviser to Senator John McCain. “That gives him an advantage he uses to deliver results.”
One such result is convincing NATO allies in Europe to increase defense spending — a goal long pursued by previous U.S. administrations without success.
Trump has long been skeptical of NATO, repeatedly arguing that the U.S. was treated unfairly because other members failed to “share the burden.” He warned that Washington would not defend countries whose defense budgets fell below the alliance’s 2% of GDP benchmark, even threatening to withdraw from the bloc.
Under American pressure — and amid rising concerns over the Russia–Ukraine conflict — NATO members gradually raised defense spending to meet the required level. At the June summit, all 32 member states even set a new goal of allocating 5% of GDP to defense by 2035, a target not even the U.S. currently meets.
In the Middle East, Trump has shown flexibility in his efforts to end the Gaza conflict that has dragged on for two years. Once a staunch supporter of Israel, he gradually shifted toward promoting a ceasefire as the humanitarian crisis worsened.
He used his personal influence over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and through Arab intermediaries like Qatar and Egypt, pressured Hamas to accept a 20-point U.S. peace plan. Instead of waiting for negotiations to conclude, Trump announced the ceasefire deal first, forcing both sides to turn it into reality.
Israel and Hamas have since implemented Phase One of the ceasefire agreement, fragile but sufficient to enable the release of several hostages held in Gaza.
“This is President Trump’s biggest foreign policy success so far,” said Jorge Castañeda, former foreign minister of Mexico, in an interview with NOTUS, an American political news outlet. “Though it remains to be seen whether the ceasefire can evolve into a lasting peace deal.”
With China, after Beijing recently announced restrictions on rare-earth exports, Trump immediately responded by imposing a 100% tariff on Chinese goods starting November 1. Yet he also struck a conciliatory tone, suggesting both sides must make concessions to reach an agreement.
This flexibility has helped the U.S. maintain leverage in trade talks. U.S. and Chinese officials met in Malaysia on October 26 and established the framework for a deal: Washington would suspend tariffs, and Beijing would delay its export restrictions for one year.
Trump also claimed to have used tariffs as leverage to help end border conflicts between Pakistan and India in May, and Cambodia and Thailand in July.
On October 26, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim shared an anecdote illustrating Trump’s unconventional style. The U.S. president had unexpectedly invited him to ride together in “The Beast,” the presidential limousine, from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to the city center for the ASEAN Summit. Though initially hesitant due to security protocols, Ibrahim accepted after Trump’s insistence.
“We admire your persistence and courage,” Ibrahim said. “The world needs leaders who push for peace — and sometimes, to achieve that, you must break the rules, just as you did today.”
Still, Fontaine cautioned that Trump’s “intuitive diplomacy” carries risks. Its unpredictability can undermine confidence in U.S. policy stability. Analysts warn that Washington could become reactive rather than strategic if decisions continue to rely solely on instinct.
Former State Department spokesman Ned Price noted that while Trump’s foreign policy approach may be controversial, it would be a mistake to dismiss the effective elements it contains.
“The challenge for future administrations,” Price said, “is to combine Trump’s political intuition with clear principles and goals — to build a foreign policy that is steady, purposeful, and ultimately serves the American people.”