It is now the policy of the United States that nations of the world should act in their own best interests, unless they are North Korea, Iran or Venezuela, or unless they should occasionally decide to collaborate. But the world shouldn't necessarily look to the U.S. for leadership.

So said President Donald Trump on Tuesday in his first address to the U.N. General Assembly. White House aides had said the speech would be "deeply philosophical." Trump's doctrine, which aides call "principled realism," appears to be a work in progress.

Most of his speech reflected the language of his predecessors. Other parts had that annoying Trump bellicosity that his supporters — no doubt his intended audience — find so energizing. It was inappropriate before a gathering of world leaders.

Yes, the president used the phrase "America first," but he said other nations (with a few exceptions) should put their interests first, too. This was not the isolationist Trump from the campaign trail, nor the globalist Trump that his isolationist supporters fear. Trump opted for a somewhat muddled middle ground.

He advocated national sovereignty and the primacy of individual state interests. Yet he recognized, as never before, the importance of U.N. collaboration. During the campaign, Trump had dismissed the U.N. as a useless social club that costs America too much money.

He boasted of America's contributions to foreign relief efforts, though the budget he proposed last spring would have cut foreign aid by 37 percent. He pointed to the achievements of the postwar Marshall Plan, which helped rebuild Europe, while warning that sovereign nations must take care of their own needs. As to the refugee crisis created by wars among sovereign nations, Trump said, "Out of the goodness of our hearts, we offer financial assistance to hosting countries in the region," while warning refugees not to show up here. The goodness of our hearts goes only so far.

Trump used the words "sovereign" or "sovereignty" 21 times, which must have thrilled Russian President Vladimir Putin. He used a similar theme in a U.N. speech two years ago to justify Russia's role in Syria and Ukraine. "What is the state sovereignty after all?" Putin asked. "It is basically about freedom and the right to choose freely our own future for every person, nation or state."

Trump drew the line on sovereignty for North Korea, Iran and Venezuela. There he became a globalist and the world's policeman, telling the world body created to foster peace that the U.S. would "totally destroy North Korea" if it doesn't back off its nuclear program; hinting that the U.S. might withdraw from the Iran nuclear agreement; and denouncing the "disastrous rule" of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Trump's speech suggested his "deeply philosophical" views about the world are evolving. Considering where they started, let's hope that's a good thing.

REPRINTED FROM THE ST LOUIS POST DISPATCH