Predictable as a friend, unpredictable as a foe and standing up for the protection of Western civilization and Christianity would be the features of Republican frontrunner Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ strategic policy. Mr. Trump elaborated on the foreign policy vision that he would pursue if elected president of the U.S, mostly compiling positions already known through his campaign speeches.
Mr Trump underscored his belief in globalisation only on America’s terms, and said he was “sceptical of any international agreement” that compromised the country’s interests. He said his would not dance to any “false song of globalism,” and resist any international obligation that would “limit our abilities to control our own affairs.”
“Americans must know that we are putting the American people first again – on trade, immigration, security. American people will be my first priority. Our friends and enemies put their countries before anyone lese. We are also going to do that,” Mr Trump said.
Criticising not only President Barack Obama for a foreign policy that he said was “reckless and blazed the path of chaos and destruction across the world,” but also former Republican President George W Bush’s global democratisation agenda, Mr Trump said his approach would be to replace “ideology with strategy, chaos with peace” in strategic thinking.
Mr Trump identified five challenges that American foreign policy faces currently. First of all, its resources are stretched and economic weakness has compounded that problems. Secondly its allies in Europe and Asia are not sharing the burden of their security. Thirdly, America’s friends in Europe and West Asia think it cannot be trusted. Fourth, America’s rivals do not respect it. And finally, Mr Trump said, America lacks a coherent foreign policy vision in the post-Cold War era. A point, though was focused on the “weakness, disarray and chaos” created by the Obama-Clinton foreign policy, also included the neoconservative Bush regime in its ambit.
Mr Trump said he would seek to mend ties with Russia and China, partner with allies in the Muslim world to fight radical Islam, and create a domestic consensus in the U.S by bringing together Democrats, Republicans and independents. Mr Trump reiterated his call of restricting immigration.
Among his remedies to the current crisis are military and philosophical fight against radical Islam and Islamic State, massive investment in strengthening the American military, and a West Asia policy that is focused on “regional stability and not radical change.” Mr Trump said his goal was “to establish a foreign policy that will endure several generations,” and he would find new people as advisers rather than who have a good resume and a long history of failed policies.
