What role will US play in international affairs?

Just a couple of months after he clashed with European leaders over climate change, global trade and immigration, President Donald J. Trump will again face the reality that America’s leadership in the world’s biggest economies is no longer a given.

Indeed, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian President Justin Trudeau already have disagreed with Trump over various issues.

As Merkel told a meeting of German business leaders about open markets, “We’ll do all we can to get as broad an agreement on this as possible in Hamburg. Given the new American administration that’s not easy, but nonetheless we need to make the effort.”

But the outspoken German leader, who along with other Europeans have expressed concern about Trump’s seeming protectionist tendencies, had this to say about the strengthening of the trans-European alliance:

“The times in which we could completely rely on others are over to a certain extent. That is what I experienced in the last few days. That is why I can only say: We Europeans must really take our fate into our own hands.”

Other European leaders share that opinion, including France’s new president, Macron, who proved many political experts wrong when he won the election and secured a solid majority in parliament.

If Trump wants the truth about what awaits him at the G20 Summit on Friday and Saturday in Hamburg, he would do well to read the analysis by Patrick Wintour, diplomatic editor of the Guardian newspaper of Britain.

Here’s what Wintour’s wrote, in part:

“The G20 summit brings together the world’s biggest economies, representing 85% of global gross domestic product (GDP), and Merkel’s chosen agenda looks likely to maximize American isolation while attempting to minimize disunity amongst others.

“The meeting, which is set to be the scene of large-scale protests, will also mark the first meeting between Trump and Russian president, Vladimir Putin, as world leaders.”

America First

During the presidential campaign last year, Trump made it clear that America First would define his foreign and trade policies. He has kept his word.

The president continues to rail against America’s trading partners, accusing them of unfair practices.

Trump has talked about setting aside trade agreements with countries around the world, and has made it clear his administration will push for a level playing field.

His decision to pull the United States out of the Paris climate agreement was hailed by his supporters, but criticized by the countries that remain committed to reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. According to the G20 summit analysis in the Guardian, Germany’s Merkel has prepared the ground carefully on climate change, hosting the two allies she needs most, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

China is the single largest emitter of carbon and India the third. If they followed the U.S. in rejecting the Paris agreement, the whole process would unravel, the Guardian contended.

But both countries have said they will not pull out of the treaty, and will surpass their Paris commitments on reduction of carbon emissions.

But Trump is undaunted because Republicans in Congress and around the country continue to support his decision to withdraw.

On the other hand, countries that remain committed to dealing with climate change see the U.S. as irresponsible and shortsighted.

Trump has raised the prospect of renegotiating the Paris accords, but he will find out this week that there isn’t widespread support for rewarding America’s behavior.

Indeed, the American delegation to the G20 summit has received a warning of sorts from U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres: If the U.S. disengages from too many issues confronting the international community it will be replaced as world leader.

That observation should guide President Trump as he joins other leaders of the world’s largest economies in trying to find the right balance between preserving national sovereignty and boosting global development.

How Trump conducts himself during the summit will set the stage for America’s role in the world.