When Trust Becomes Strategy: Rethinking America’s Innovation Posture

America's global leadership in innovation is being jeopardized not by a lack of resources, but by its own political inconsistency, which erodes the trust of key allies. Nations that once accepted U.S. dominance are now hedging their bets and building separate frameworks to protect themselves from American unreliability. This crisis of credibility has tangible consequences, causing partners to delay joint ventures and question the security of shared intelligence. To restore its influence, the United States must treat trust as a strategic asset by ensuring its scientific and diplomatic commitments can outlast partisan political cycles.