Donald Trump’s tour of Asia — his most significant exercise in foreign policy since taking office — provided, in many ways, a snapshot of his presidency. Like the curate’s egg, his diplomatic foray was good in parts. But its overall effect has been to strengthen doubts over US commitment to longstanding alliances, undermine confidence in American values and place the US on the sidelines of regional initiatives.

The underlying aims of the trip were threefold. First, to urge unity in confronting and containing the nuclear threat posed by North Korea. Second, to reassert America’s role in the region as counterweight to a newly assertive China. Third, to advance his transactional, zero sum view of economic relations, favouring bilateral dealmaking over multilateral trade agreements.

Despite the inherent inconsistency of these aims, the first part of the trip was a moderate success. In Tokyo and in South Korea, Mr Trump gave the necessary reassurance of America’s support in security matters. There was no intemperate language or goading of Pyongyang: Mr Trump stuck to his script, underlined the need for collective action and called on North Korea to come to the negotiating table.