Trump’s Threat-Driven Diplomacy Faces Resistance as G7 Leaders Challenge U.S. Global Role

President Donald Trump has consistently relied on a strategy of threats and intimidation to assert U.S. dominance on the global stage, particularly with allies. From proposing tariffs to making provocative statements about military alliances and sovereignty, he has tried to compel compliance through fear.

However, this approach is beginning to lose its effectiveness as world leaders increasingly understand the pattern behind his threats and recognize that many are not followed through. Analysts suggest that Trump tends to avoid genuine confrontation and may back down if opposed with confidence.

G7 Leaders Push Back as U.S. Global Leadership Faces Decline Under Trump

Ahead of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada, several leaders are signaling their willingness to stand up to Trump. French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney have criticized the U.S. for undermining long-standing partnerships. Carney notably stated that the U.S. no longer holds its traditional position of global leadership, largely due to Trump’s transactional approach. This shift marks a departure from previous decades of unquestioned U.S. dominance in global affairs.

Unlike previous G7 summits, this year’s gathering will not include a joint communiqué — a symbolic indicator of consensus — due to Trump’s polarizing stance. Instead, individual statements will be issued. Macron and other leaders have voiced concern about Trump’s attempts to force global realignments, particularly in pushing countries to choose between the U.S. and China. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba also directly challenged Trump’s tariff policies, suggesting that they would hurt economic growth.

Summit Tests Trump’s Diplomacy Amid Growing Global Fragmentation and Weakened Western Alliances

U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen views the summit as a critical moment for Trump to repair strained alliances, especially as rival powers like China seek to exploit disunity among Western nations. Despite public displays of strength, many leaders are no longer deterred by Trump’s tactics and are exploring other global partnerships. Shaheen emphasized that although these alliances remain important, international counterparts are increasingly open to alternative alliances.

Trump has shown a preference for leaders who flatter him or share some of his positions, including U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Germany’s Friedrich Merz, and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni. These leaders attempt to balance engaging Trump while maintaining their own national interests, such as supporting Ukraine and NATO. Some, like Meloni, face challenges as they navigate Trump’s unpredictable stance on European trade and security.

Despite attempts to maintain a cooperative tone, experts note that the G7 summit underscores a deeper fragmentation among Western powers. Trump’s unorthodox diplomacy — favoring authoritarian leaders and nationalist movements — contrasts with the collective vision traditionally shared by the G7. As the world confronts overlapping crises, the Kananaskis summit reveals the extent to which global coordination has weakened under Trump’s influence, threatening long-term unity and stability.