Trump’s impact on US foreign policy: Progress or regression?

Trump’s impact on US foreign policy Progress or regression
Credit: Erin Schaff/The New York Times

Michelle Obama’s solo boycott of Donald Trump’s inauguration requires no further explanation, reflecting her clear disapproval of his actions and rhetoric. The former first lady has no tolerance for, and even less affection for, a guy known for making controversial remarks on race and gender. If they could, many more would also boycott Trump, particularly among US friends in Europe. However, they will unavoidably have to deal with him for four years. Not everyone has the same level of fear and hatred. Trump’s return is more welcomed than regretted in China, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, South Africa, and Brazil, according to a survey released last week by the European Council on Foreign Relations. On the other hand, people in the UK, France, Germany, and a few other Western European nations are horrified by the idea.

What is Trump’s role in the Ukraine conflict? 

One important test of the “good Trump, bad Trump” theory is the conflict in Ukraine. He criticizes the price of Kyiv’s military aid. He claims to comprehend Vladimir Putin’s objections to Ukraine joining NATO. He asserts that he can bring the war to a swift conclusion, but it seems that doing so would require Ukraine to cede its sovereign territory and encourage Russian aggression. It’s just not feasible to “cancel” a US president, even in light of the country’s waning importance and authority. And a lot of powerful nations think Trump #2 may benefit them. 

The unusual ones out, there are Europeans. They run the risk of being irrelevant and marginalized if they don’t play ball. These results run counter to former President Joe Biden’s absurd assertion that he strengthened American dominance in the world. The globe is abandoning what many see to be a hypocritical international “rules-based” order overseen by the United States. Trump’s non-ideological, non-interventionist, nationalistic, transactional, and self-serving worldview is seen by emerging countries as more appropriate for the times. 

It’s a reflection of their methodology. He is an essential change agent in their eyes.

These are more than just scholarly theories. Redirecting or controlling Trump is essential for real lives, as is perhaps preventing international conflict. So-called “Trump whisperers,” or those who might have the president’s ear, are a topic of much discussion in Brussels. Giorgia Meloni of Italy is mentioned. So are Mark Rutte, the head of NATO, and Viktor Orbán, the leader of Hungary. None has decisive power. A “Trump tamer” is what the world needs right now.

Voters view about his action

Margaret Thatcher, the former prime leader of Britain, is comparable in that she destroyed things but was unable to rebuild them. Trump is not so much an architect as a demolition worker. He might destroy the current international system and leave the US and the rest of the globe in ruins, Kupchan cautions, rather than contributing to the creation of a better and new one. 

However, Trump is aware that he cannot afford to have Biden’s catastrophic 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan happen again. He dared not declare a decisive strategic win for the redesigned “axis of evil,” as some refer to North Korea, China, Iran, and Russia. To strengthen Kyiv’s negotiating position in upcoming negotiations, there is, therefore, a discussion about him raising rather than decreasing US support shortly. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European nations are uniting around the goal of “peace through strength.” Additionally, they have a better chance of getting “good Trump” to bat for them as the Ukraine endgame draws closer if they follow through on requests from France’s Emmanuel Macron and Poland’s Donald Tusk to increase EU and NATO defense expenditures and efforts.

Trump’s Middle East policy

Trump’s judgment on Israel and Palestine is mediocre at best. He prioritizes striking deals with the Gulf Arab nations over pursuing peace. He reduced funds and relocated the US embassy to contested Jerusalem while in power, treating the Palestinians with disdain. But he covets a Nobel Peace Prize, unaware of the irony, and is jealous of Barack Obama’s 2009 honor. 

Trump might be able to be a positive influence in the Middle East if he is guided by the kind of skillful diplomacy that Britain’s Peter Mandelson has been sent to Washington to practice. It’s a tie at the moment. China is Trump’s other major international obstacle. Will he impose 60% tariffs on imports from China? He is undoubtedly aware of the potential harm and inflation caused by the resulting trade war. 

However, he is hesitant to support Taiwan, which Beijing has threatened to invade. Sordid, pragmatic US-China partnerships are not impossible. President Xi Jinping received an invitation from “Good Trump” to attend his inauguration. China is being blamed by “Bad Trump” for all of the world’s problems.

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  • NYCFPA Editorial

    The New York Center for Foreign Policy Affairs (NYCFPA) is a policy, research, and educational organization headquartered in New York State with an office in Washington D.C. NYCFPA is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan, institution devoted to conducting in-depth research and analysis on every aspect of American foreign policy and its impact around the world. The organization is funded by individual donors. The organization receives no corporate or government donations.

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