On that basis, it pledged to support far-right populist parties that, in its words, “oppose elite-driven, anti-democratic restrictions on core liberties in Europe, the Anglosphere and the rest of the democratic world”. From strategy to realityTrump’s strategy should not have come as a surprise. Nevertheless, the current coalition Government, like many liberal democratic states, has responded to the second Trump administration by adopting a “softly-softly” approach. More importantly, quiet diplomacy did not curb Trump’s sustained assault on the multilateral, rules-based order on which New Zealand – and most small and middle powers – depend. Yet Trump’s security strategy now leaves the Government with little room to avoid reassessing its stated goal of closer strategic alignment with the US.

Source: New Zealand Herald December 21, 2025 17:28 UTC