Great powers do not decline because they are conquered, but because they abandon the responsibilities of leadership. In this context, the global order is changing. The country that once shaped the structure of the new world order is now backtracking from many of its commitments and obligations. The recent policies of the Trump administration toward other countries are no hidden matter. The revival of expansionism, imperial tendencies, a stick policy approach, economic nationalism, and withdrawal from multilateral organizations is undoubtedly creating space for China to fill the vacuum left by the retreat of United States leadership. This realist American approach toward neighboring countries and global organizations is reshaping the existing structure that was based on mutual coexistence and cooperation.

The normalization of expansionist rhetoric by the Trump administration, from proposals to purchase Greenland to actions perceived as violations of Venezuela’s sovereignty, suggests that the US is inadvertently creating an opportunity for China to present itself as a reliable partner to countries that emphasize........

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