Many U.S. allies are understandably frustrated, flummoxed and dismayed by President Donald Trump’s belligerent approach to what used to be Washington’s closest partnerships. From demands that they pay more for the privilege of protection to imposing historically high trade restrictions on them, Trump has gone full predatory mode when it comes to U.S. hegemony.
While the extent of Trump’s demands and impositions on U.S. allies are extreme in degree, are they really different in kind from how allies have historically interacted? In fact, though some might wonder how Trump can treat allies this way, the reality is that such behavior is far from unprecedented,…