Trump has a strong executive-centered power in foreign decision-making and often lays down policies without in-depth consultations with his advisors. It shows the reflected choices of this centralized control and could bear unpredictable repercussions.
The tenet of “America First,” which favors American interests over international collaboration, continues to play a role in Trump’s foreign policy. This policy has led to transactional ties with allies and emphasizes hard security issues such as military cooperation and counter-terrorism.
Suppose Trump’s foreign policy is characterized by pops of unpredictability, sudden policy shifts, and a preferred attitude of disregarding accepted international standards. In that case, his management of crises like that in Gaza bears witness to his being able to surprise both allies and enemies in attendance.
Trump’s direct influence on America’s first policy
Trump’s policy gathers an expansionist spirit for the Americas while decidedly switching to isolationism for the European frontier. The multilateral organizations have increasingly borne his criticism, and he withdrew the US from international agreements like the Paris Agreement and favors bilateral-type agreements that are specific for the immediate benefit of American interests.
A key task of Trump’s second term would involve the restriction of China’s emerging powerhouse status to the playing field of trade, technology, and security. This inherently aggressive position reflects a wider narrative of the movement away from engagement in favor of confrontation with China.
Donald Trump’s second-term Africa policy is expected to impact greatly on diplomacy, economics, and security. Other than projects such as Prosper Africa to strengthen economic ties between the United States and the continent, his first term had little to do with Africa. There was ample criticism about his administration’s transactional policies, which were often more concerned with countering Chinese expansion than actually growing African investment.
Will Trump cut military spending?
Trump has made its case for a powerful military during his presidency and frequently asks for more defense budgets to uplift American security capabilities. Recent events, however, signal a change in the administration’s approach towards more fiscal conservatism.
How risky is a Trump second term?
Donald Trump’s return to the White House could undermine national policies, international relations, and economic stability. Due to the aggressive use of tariffs against highly significant trade partners like China, Canada, and Mexico, Trump is likely to harm the economy. These tariffs pose a threat of disrupting international supply chains, increasing consumer prices, and triggering any chances of inflation rioting riotously and wrenching economies.
Trump’s foreign policy places America first and often is at the cost of alliances and multi-national agreements. The withdrawal from several international treaties and agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, the nuclear deal negotiated with Iran, and the TPP, is paramount to this effort.
Donald Trump’s Middle East strategy is guided by a group of advisors with assorted experiences and opinions. In this regard, Steve Witkoff and Massad Boulos have been assigned significant positions in Trump’s administration.
Trump has had a long friendship with real estate developer Steve Witkoff. He was brought on board considering his business acumen and connections in the Middle East to serve as a Special Envoy.
Massad Boulos, a Lebanese-American billionaire, is Tiffany’s father-in-law. His appointment as senior advisor on Middle Eastern and Arab Affairs is indicative of his relations with the Arab American community.
Witkoff and Boulos express different opinions as to Trump’s Middle East advisor. Witkoff’s involvement in ceasefire negotiations and his unwavering support for Israel imply a sustained emphasis on US-Israeli relations. However, the real strategy remains fuzzy; Boulos shall be a valuable asset in the context of complicated regional relationships, given his ties to the Arab-American community.
Trump’s personal, transactional, and often unorthodox approach toward foreign relations is reflected in his Middle East advisors. Their contribution will be relevant in the shaping of U.S. strategy in the region, specifically concerning some issues within Israeli-Palestinian relations and Iran.
Which countries are in Iran’s Middle East region?
The Middle East comprises different states, often defined in context to their geographical location and the common cultural heritage of those states. The countries usually considered to be Middle Eastern are:
- Bahrain
- Cyprus
- Egypt
- Iran
- Iraq
- Israel
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Oman
- Palestine (Gaza Strip and West Bank)
The Biden administration is ratcheting up its moves to secure a legacy before the advent of the Trump presidency. The Biden administration has made the China challenge a primary agenda, working on both military cooperation and economic projects. This entails enacting policies to curb Chinese technical development as well as enhance defense partnerships with prime partners by training and enriching China’s military partnerships.
That signals the administration’s support for global climate cooperation, from rejoining the Paris Agreement to passing landmark proposals, many of which are geared toward pushing for wind and solar renewable energy like the Inflation Reduction Act.
Trump loyalists in foreign policy
Donald Trump’s foreign policy is characterized by high centralization and customization, with a large emphasis on advisor loyalty. This theory has been apparent throughout Trump’s presidency, and it is expected to persist into a possible future term. Trump’s supporters are highly influential in his foreign policy choices, often placing personal views ahead of agreed diplomatic conventions.
Loyalty has always been first on Trump’s list of priorities in choosing aides. So, if a person agrees with him, whether or not he or she has much experience in foreign policy, that person would be given the job again and again. His foreign policy appears to be quite centralist and unpredictable and at the same time, decisions are made with no input from established experts. Therefore, Trump has the power to dictate policies according to his interests and intuitions due to this centralization of power.
With Rubio as Secretary of State and Waltz as National Security Advisor, both are important members of Trump’s foreign policy team. They are renowned for their ardent defense of American military supremacy and the worldwide empire.
Hegseth has played a significant role in influencing Trump’s security strategy as US security secretary. Trump’s loyalty to conventional career diplomats or military officers is evident in his nomination.
Marco Rubio Secretary of State
In January 2025, a second Trump administration saw a sea change in US foreign policy, with the Senate having confirmed Marco Rubio as secretary of state. Notably, Rubio is the first Hispanic to hold this post and has exceptional practical experience in foreign policy.
Who is Marco Rubio?
Marco Rubio is a long-time public servant, carrying the proud legacy of being a Cuban-American from Florida. He was a senator representing Florida from 2011 to 2025, with membership on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
Rubio has long been an ardent supporter of NATO and US leadership on the global stage, and his foreign policy is marked by an uncompromisingly tough stand against China, Iran, and the enemies of the United States.
Marco Rubio’s confirmation votes in the Senate were a 99-0 vote.
This wide-ranging support indicated his resume as a respected and capable envoy. He first declared upon taking office that he intended to employ US foreign policy to make the United States safer, stronger, and wealthier. He also stressed that it is of utmost consequence to see the State Department as fashioning and executing American foreign policy.
Marco Rubio policies
Rubio has been relentless in calling for strengthening US alliances while also encouraging burden-sharing among allies through his support for NATO and dealings with major allies in the Indo-Pacific region. As an important member of the Trump administration, Rubio is expected to assume a crucial role in implementing the latter’s personalized style of diplomacy, which often involves direct communication with foreign leaders and a focus on bilateral agreements.
Marco Rubio’s previous offices
At every stage of his political career, Marco Rubio has held important leadership positions; these positions have shaped and fashioned our opinions on foreign relations and governance issues. He was a commissioner from West Miami and developed into the Speaker of the House of Representatives in Florida from 2006 to 2008.
Further grounding his status as a vociferous proponent of conservative views and sharp observer of international developments, he had been imprinted in the US Senate, where he served from 2011 until 2025. Rubio extended his diplomatic skills into the center of foreign policy during Trump’s administration in 2025, when he was appointed US Secretary of State. Rubio’s betrayal of the new Rome was with obvious priorities: strong partnerships and an assertive foreign policy.
