In his inaugural address Friday, President Donald Trump declared that “from this moment on, it’s going to be America First.”
He also explained that “every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families.”
Trump’s remarks sounded like a continuation of the campaign statements – making it clear that he plans to implement what he vowed.
His remarks also underscored that America would no longer tolerate suffering of its middle class in the form of loss of jobs for the uplift of other countries.
A reading of the speech and foreign policy priorities outlined in a White House statement indicate focus on four broad areas : no more globalism as before, trade deals only in American’s interest and a vigorous fight against Islamic terrorism and an expansion of American military power.
“Peace through strength will be at the center of that foreign policy. This principle will make possible a stable, more peaceful world with less conflict and more common ground,” a policy statement posted on the White House website said on Trump’s very first day in the Oval Office.
The White House also explains that “defeating ISIS and other radical Islamic terror groups will be our highest priority.”
“To defeat and destroy these groups, we will pursue aggressive joint and coalition military operations when necessary. In addition, the
Trump Administration will work with international partners to cut off funding for terrorist groups, to expand intelligence sharing, and to engage in cyberwarfare to disrupt and disable propaganda and recruiting.”
On strengthening America’s military capabilities, the statement says the Trump Administration “will rebuild the American military.”
“Our Navy has shrunk from more than 500 ships in 1991 to 275 in 2016. Our Air Force is roughly one third smaller than in 1991. President Trump is committed to reversing this trend, because he knows that our military dominance must be unquestioned.”
At the same time, the foreign policy outline shows flexibility in forging international alliances.
“Finally, in pursuing a foreign policy based on American interests, we will embrace diplomacy. The world must know that we do not go abroad in search of enemies, that we are always happy when old enemies become friends, and when old friends become allies.”
“The world will be more peaceful and more prosperous with a stronger and more respected America.”
To begin with, the Trump Administration has retained 51 Obama Administration officials working on key national security issues like the top counterterrorism official and senior officials at the Department of Defense and some other departments. The step represents continuity of policies at least into the immediate future.
The Administration will face some key hot spots including Irq, Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan. Although the White House document does not deal with issues specifically or in detail, some officials including Defense Secretary James Mattis indicated in his confirmation hearing that Washington would like to work with Pakistan to secure Afghanistan. The policy document posted on the website says the US will develop defense systems against Iranian and North Korean missile threats.
Zeroing in on the trade deals – a key tool of globalization – the foreign policy statement says all trade deals must work for Americans, since in the wake of deals negotiated by Washington in recent times “blue-collar towns and cities have watched their factories close and good-paying jobs move overseas, while Americans face a mounting trade deficit and a devastated manufacturing base.”
With tough and fair agreements, the White House statement says, international trade can be used to grow our economy, return millions of jobs to America’s shores, and revitalize our nation’s suffering communities.
“This strategy starts by withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and making certain that any new trade deals are in the interests of American workers. President Trump is committed to renegotiating NAFTA. If our partners refuse a renegotiation that gives American workers a fair deal, then the President will give notice of the United States’ intent to withdraw from NAFTA.
“In addition to rejecting and reworking failed trade deals, the United States will crack down on those nations that violate trade agreements and harm American workers in the process. The President will direct the Commerce Secretary to identify all trade violations and to use every tool at the federal government’s disposal to end these abuses.”
Clearly, the policy statement marks a departure from business as usual in the areas of globalization, trade deals and manufacturing jobs. While fight against terror is an ongoing work, the statement on forgin new alliances is quite significant, if applied to major powers including Russia.
A partial or complete implementation of the policies would have wide-ranging ramifications for America’s relations with the world including major economies and countries that benefit from offshoring of American jobs.
How the Trump Administration moves forward will be the key as indeed is his choice of cabinet members who will spearhead implementation of the policies.
Another critical determinant will be the state of US-China relationship, with the two largest economies having a big influence on the future growth prospects. Global issues like climate change, the future of international trade and almost inextricable interdependence of the two largest economies, are likely to bear much influence on the future world order.
That is not exclude other factors like US-Russia relations and Washington’s policy on NATO and Europe as well as unforeseen events like domestic political battles and variables in the ecosystem of international politics that could upend the world order.
Much will also depend on if the Trump Administration keeps America a magnet for highly skilled and extraordinarily talented professionals from around the world with far-sighted immigration policies.
While it remains to be seen, what exactly will be the impact of the Trump foreign policy approach, it seems to suggest that American foreign policy will spring largely, if not entirely, from the domestic imperatives and that business and economy would be major drivers of Washington’s policy on the international stage.
In view of the enormous influence that the United States has maintained through its decades-long global engagement, the Trump Administration has a high-stakes job ahead as it seeks to alter the course of American foreign policy.
