The upcoming Trump-Putin summit offers a textbook example of the “Trump Doctrine” in foreign policy: a preference for personal, bilateral deal-making over reliance on institutional alliances and established diplomatic norms.
This doctrine is evident in every aspect of the summit’s planning. Trump announced it himself on social media. He has emphasized his personal belief that he can get a deal. He is willing to meet Putin alone, sidelining allies and the Ukrainian government. And he has floated an unconventional “territory swap” idea that challenges the consensus position of his own Western partners.
This approach prioritizes speed, flexibility, and the leader’s intuition over the slower, more methodical process of building consensus within alliances like NATO or the G7. Trump seems to believe that he can cut through the bureaucratic red tape and achieve a breakthrough that institutions cannot.
The Alaska summit will be a major test of this doctrine. If it succeeds, Trump will claim validation for his unique brand of diplomacy. If it fails, or results in a deal that alienates allies, it will be seen as a cautionary tale about the dangers of prioritizing personal relationships over the strength of institutional alliances.