This is part two of a two-part series tracking Donald Trump's presidency. To read it in full, you'll be asked to subscribe. To read part one, click here.
National interests.
Issue: Europe
What’s been said: Critics and concerned voices abroad worried that Donald Trump’s criticism of European allies would weaken our long-standing alliances in Europe while emboldening Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump demanded that Europe do more to pull its weight, particularly in NATO, and at times was complimentary of Putin.
What we’re tracking: The status of the Ukraine–Russia War, and how much territory Ukraine has retained. We’ll also pay attention to whether the U.S. is still in NATO, whether the U.S. has deployed troops in the region, and how much proportionally European countries are committing to their defense relative to last year.
Where things stand: As of January 16, Ukraine has lost roughly 29,000 square miles of territory — about 12% of its size at the beginning of the war in 2022. Trump’s involvement in the Ukraine–Russia War has been fraught, and while the U.S. has made several attempts to broker peace between the two countries, no lasting agreement has been reached.
Trump has continued his criticism of NATO well into his second term, and recent overtures about a potential U.S. purchase of Greenland have strained the U.S.’s relationship with fellow NATO member countries — though the alliance remains intact. At the end of 2025, 31 NATO member countries met the organization’s previous target of spending 2% GDP on core defense. Trump’s pressure on NATO countries to increase their defense spending led member countries to agree to spend 5% of their GDP on core defense requirements, but as of the end of 2025, no member country had met the target.
Issue: Asia–Pacific
What’s been said: Trump’s strategy in Asia was a source of great controversy, with supporters praising his hot-and-cold approach towards North Korea and strong rhetoric against China.
