US President Donald Trump’s second-term foreign policy increasingly bypasses the State Department, relying instead on a tight circle of handpicked political appointees and family members for direct decision-making, according to influential American magazine The Atlantic.

Foreign governments are engaging Washington through lobbyists, back channels, and personal connections rather than formal diplomatic processes, writes Vivian Salama, a staff writer at The Atlantic. The effect, she says, is a more ad hoc, personality-driven approach to diplomacy, one that prefers quick deals and political optics over structured processes, professional expertise, and long-term alliance management.

This mercurial, transactional diplomacy, together with the sweeping “reciprocal” tariff offensives of President Trump and his combative bluster toward allies and adversaries alike, has eroded confidence in the United States, alienated partners, and shaken the foundations of the transatlantic alliance system.

The uncertainty spawned by these often whimsical policies is reshaping global geopolitics and geo-economics, as America’s traditional allies appear to drift away. In this volatile environment, China is emerging as a pillar of stability, with a growing number of European and Western leaders turning to Beijing. Friedrich Merz is the latest among a number of US allies to visit China.

The German chancellor met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in a development that signals Europe’s cautious but pragmatic effort to recalibrate its China policy while adapting to a more fragmented global order. Merz’s tour follows a series of European engagements with China, including trips by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as well as outreach from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

In his meeting with Merz, President Xi spoke about the importance of China-Germany ties at a time of the most “profound global transformations” since World War II. As the world remains in flux, the Chinese leader called for stronger strategic communication, deeper mutual trust, and sustained progress in the Beijing–Berlin all-round strategic........

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