Resigning from the job of a world policeman is much more difficult than it seems. The first reactions of the leading figures in the Trump administration were consistent with the “America First” principle when the battle broke out between India and Pakistan last week.
JD Vance said the United States will not be involved in a conflict that “basically, it doesn’t matter”. The U.S. vice president continued: "We cannot control these countries... The United States cannot tell Indians to lie down their arms. We cannot tell Pakistanis to put down their arms." President Donald Trump commented vaguely that the two countries will "fix it out in one way or another."
The lofty indifference does not survive for a long time. As the battle between India and Pakistan intensifies - Pakistan has abandoned heavy hints in terms of nuclear weapons, with top officials including Vance hitting the phone. Trump quickly gained credit when the ceasefire was announced. (Not surprising.)
The exact role of the United States in negotiating a ceasefire - and whether it will hold) remains an open question. But the whole plot reminds Madeleine Albright's famous phrase: America is "an essential country."
Albright, who once served as Secretary of State, is this "globalist" of liberal internationalists, despised by the "America No. 1" crowd surrounding Trump.
There is an argument that not only is ironic, but also inevitably, Trump and Vance end up appearing where Albright marks them. They are operating superpowers, as foreign policy thinker Robert Kagan once said: “Superpowers are not allowed to retire.”
If Trump and Vance stick to their initial intuition and stay away from the Indian-Pakistan conflict, the United States will not suffer any adverse consequences. But, in the end, they are not ready to take risks.
It is also unclear whether Trump and his partners really desire “retirement” (or use of U.S. power in a different way). Sometimes, they talk about washing their hands and ignoring foreign disputes. At other moments, it’s all about promoting the economic interests of the United States.
Despite the government's threat to Greenland and Panama, especially in Vance's self-proclaimed "restraints" gathered around Vance. As for Trump himself, his self-image as a general dealer not only expanded trade, but also continued war and peace.
Last week, the president finally had the chance to gain credibility for the trade and peace agreement. Britain and the United States signed a ceasefire in a trade war initiated by Trump himself. Pakistan and India ceased deadly exchanges.
In diplomacy (such as in trade), the next question is whether last week’s deal will prove to be one-off. Or, whether Trump can eventually make a good statement that he is a master trader.
So far, with Hoopla and self-promotion - the Trump administration has made little progress in seeking a peaceful deal. A ceasefire in Gaza negotiated by the United States in January broke out. The Israeli government clearly believes that it fights war where it sees appropriate, including preventing food and humanitarian relief to Gaza.
Trump may use his visit to the Middle East this week to try to restore some kind of peace plan for Gaza. But the chances of success seem slim - even if the situation on the ground becomes increasingly desperate.
In the Gulf, Trump must also participate in Iran's issues. Even as Washington tries to engage in a new nuclear deal with Tehran, Israel is struggling to secure a military strike against Iran's nuclear program. Whether to attack Israeli attacks (almost inevitably in the United States) is a question for the Trump administration’s internal Foreign Policy Department.
Here, the restrainers led by Vance seem to have the upper hand in opposing military operations. Hokesh U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz fired a blow to Netanyahu administration. But the idea of attacking Iran keeps coming back. "I called on Monday, 'Stop the war with Iran' because that's how each week starts."
Then, efforts are being made to negotiate a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. The Trump administration once again finds the reality of diplomacy frustrating. Last week in Washington, I saw Vance complaining that both Ukrainians and Russians spent a full half hour of any conversation against each other.
Trump's preferred negotiator is real estate tycoon Steve Witkoff, who is also charged with ending the Russian-Ukrainian war, handling Iran's nuclear program and bringing peace to Gaza. If he has five minutes of backup time, he might also be asked to resolve Kashmir.
If the Trump administration's foreign policy is not full enough in the session, some close-range observers are also worried that China is ready to take action against Taiwan.
Facing all these frustrating foreigners, Trump has an obvious temptation to ignore the outside world and rely on the "big beautiful ocean" to ensure the security of the United States. But - as evidenced by last week's event in South Asia - is easier said than done.
gideon.rachman@ft.com