The Impact of Trumpism on Global Nuclear Nonproliferation

Abstract

For decades, global nonproliferation measures have provided strategic stability to control the proliferation of nuclear weapons to ensure international security and peace. However, the rise of Trumpism has signalled a significant shift in US foreign policy from multi-lateral liberalism to interest-driven policy.  Donald Trump with his unilateralism, isolationism and transaction diplomacy have far-reaching effects on longstanding global nuclear nonproliferation and arms control frameworks. By utilising qualitative research methodology and secondary data sources, this article examines Trump’s policy impact on significant case studies: The Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA), East Asia (Japan, south and north Korea) security dynamics, and strategic competition between US, Russia and China. The research highlights the effect of the US withdrawal from key agreements has created on the strategic instability and nuclear tensions among states. The findings of the research indicates that the shift from a collaborative nuclear diplomacy towards interest driven diplomacy might threaten to undermine existing nuclear norms, raise tensions in regions and intensified strategic rivalry among the US, Russia and China.