How World Leaders Navigate Trump amid Deference and Defiance

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How Sheinbaum and Carney Master Trump Diplomacy: A Case Study in Strength and Deference

By TRH News Desk

NEW DELHI, June 26, 2025 – As US President Donald Trump’s second term reshapes global diplomacy, world leaders are grappling with how to engage a leader known for his transactional and unpredictable style. Iran learnt in a span of a few days that Trump took the US to bombing its nuclear facilities while holding talks and again returning to diplomacy. Israel too braces up for an unpredictable Trump, with US President making candid claims that Israeli cities had been badly hit hard in the last couple of days of war with Iran.

Political scientist Ian Bremmer, president of Eurasia Group, offered insight in a post on X: “Trump doesn’t respect people that suck up as obsequiously as Rutte. The Sheinbaum, Carney approach of deference but sticking up for themselves is more effective.” This observation underscores a growing consensus among experts that flattery alone fails with Trump, while a blend of respect and resolve yields better results.

His claims find endorsement in way China dealt with Trump. After repeated requests from the US, Chinese President Xi Jinping finally spoke with Trump on phone to put a trade deal in work quickly between the two nations. Until then, China matched Trump’s rhetorical actions with reciprocity. Yet, China per experts remain wary of an unpredictable Trump.

Canada’s Carney: Standing Firm with Diplomacy

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has emerged as a case study in this approach. Following Trump’s provocative comments about annexing Canada, Carney met with Trump in the Oval Office on May 6, 2025, and firmly stated that Canada was “not for sale.” Trump’s retort, “Never say never,” was met with a diplomatic yet resolute stance from Carney, who avoided direct confrontation but maintained Canada’s sovereignty.

In a recent statement, Carney noted that the US is no longer keen on annexing Canada, showing a cooling of Trump’s earlier rhetoric. “Trump has violated the deep assumption in Canadian foreign policy that the US is an inherently trustworthy nation,” said Brian Rathbun, a global affairs professor at the University of Toronto, in The New York Times. Carney’s strategy of combining deference with assertiveness helped Canada avoid punitive tariffs, though tensions linger over trade agreements like the USMCA.

Mexico’s Sheinbaum: Cool-Headed Pragmatism

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum also navigated Trump’s demands with notable success. Facing threats of 25% tariffs over border security and fentanyl trafficking, Sheinbaum deployed 10,000 National Guard troops to the US-Mexico border and secured a record fentanyl seizure, defusing tensions temporarily. The Guardian reported, “Sheinbaum kept a cool head, and the capacity to hold firm and react to Trump,” earning her approval ratings near 80% at home.

Sheinbaum’s approach avoids direct clashes while making strategic concessions. When Trump delayed tariffs after last-minute talks, she announced retaliatory measures but framed them as defending Mexico’s sovereignty. “Cooperation and coordination, yes; subordination and interventionism, no,” Sheinbaum declared, per The New York Times. Experts like Martha Bárcena, a former Mexican ambassador, told The Guardian, “It’s clear that Trump is talking to his base and Sheinbaum to hers,” highlighting the performative yet pragmatic nature of their exchanges.

Bremmer, in an India Today interview, observed that powerful states like China “force Trump to divert his diplomatic attention elsewhere,” unlike weaker nations that capitulate quickly. The Atlantic noted, “China called Trump’s bluff,” illustrating Beijing’s willingness to escalate rather than flatter.

The Art of Dealing with Trump

The Conversation calls Trump’s foreign policy as “extreme transactionalism,” rewarding leaders who offer deals or stand their ground without alienating him. The New York Times reported that Trump’s preference for “strongmen who flatter him” often leads him to favour leaders like Russia’s Vladimir Putin or Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman, but Sheinbaum and Carney’s nuanced strategies have kept their nations out of the crosshairs—for now.

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