I tend to see the most important change moving from a world where the United States provided global safe passage to all nations opposing the Soviet Union… to one where the US has come to the belief it is no longer a good deal for the US.

We helped so many nations grow and prosper by enabling safe navigation of the seas. But that era is now ending.

1) russia is no longer a super power
2) the US does not need middle eastern oil
3) why should we protect the seas for Chinese goods
4) the US can do quite well concentrating on Canadian, Mexican (and countries further south) trade
5) let other countries bear the burden of protecting their own trade routes

This is not a recent phenomenon. Not a Trump thing. It began much earlier when the 600 ship navy dream was abandoned.

For better or worse… this will be our new reality.