The new president of the United States, Donald Trump, made various controversial comments over the holidays. He made different jokes, such as making Canada the 51st state, retaking the Panama Canal, and planning to buy Greenland. However, his warning about immediate changes in US foreign policy will be dangerous for many nations. He is going to change his strategy about the Russia-Ukraine war, Middle East conflicts, and complicated relationship with China.
Many experts say that the central focus of Trump will be US interests. He is focusing on reducing proxy wars and preventing unnecessary entanglements. Trump claimed that after being elected as US President he would end the Ukraine war within one day. For this purpose, he is seeking a diplomatic resolution with the assurance that Ukraine’s future lies in the European Union rather than NATO. To achieve this aim, the US needs China’s support. Because China is the only nation that has an interest in ending the conflict and curbing the government’s promotion of militainment in the region. With China’s support, Trump could ease tensions with Beijing.
With growing global tensions and French troops in Ukraine, 2025 will be a testing year for Donald Trump. Will he solve his challenges and stay true to his foreign policy or was he just talking?
President Donald Trump faces many complexities in the Middle East. This includes the presence of US troops in Syria, tensions with Iran, and increasing violence in Palestine. According to experts, it is crucial for Trump to carefully handle the situation to avoid a bigger crisis. To safely withdraw US troops, Trump should collaborate with Turkey and the Syrian government.
In the case of Israel, Trump needs to convince Netanyahu to accept a ceasefire deal and allow humanitarian aid to Gaza. Violating international laws worsens tension and pulls the United States into more conflict.
Furthermore, the China-US trade war could further increase instability in the region and increase global risks. Trump and Netanyahu are closer allies so Trump should prevent Israel from annexing the West Bank, as this could break treaties with Jordan and spark new conflict.
To stop the war with Beijing over Taiwan, Donald Trump should reaffirm the “One China policy.” This conflict is the major tension between the two nations. To reunite China and Taiwan, the US must support peaceful dialogue.
On the economic front, Trump’s new tariffs on Chinese goods would be in tandem with Biden’s export restrictions on advanced technology. Experts argue that exclusionary policies like these hurt US businesses and global competitiveness. Instead, Washington should emphasize balanced trade strategies that protect American industries without risking full economic decoupling. This approach would strengthen domestic production while maintaining stable trade ties with China, ultimately safeguarding long-term US interests.
Trump may care less about those parts of Africa and Southeast Asia, but each one of those areas is pushing for better trade and development alternatives to what these countries receive either from the West or China. This has led to a Global South QI program by Sarang Shidore arguing that the US must stop just focusing only on security- the approach includes more military entanglements. Such an idea results in several militarized relations that get entrenched and lead to unnecessary involvement.
Historical examples of Vietnam, Somalia, and Iraq show that military actions often result in negative outcomes, such as insurgencies and backlash, rather than building strong relationships. Instead, the U.S. should look for long-term partnerships and economic growth in the Global South. Support should focus on creating opportunities for both sides to win, rather than using military force unless there is a real threat to US interests.
