As a person with a degree in international relations I am always looking beyond our borders (they are not as porous as some would have you believe)….while I do not approve of Biden’s world view (a future post) I care less for Trump’s.
Volumes have been written about what a second Trump presidency would do to the country….but few are looking beyond that and staring into what the world will be like with that second shot at greatness.
Since the US has this sort of ‘invisible empire’ thing going on a Trump presidency will effect the entire world with his rants and acts.
So what could we expect for the rest of the world….
Just over six months ahead of the US election, the world is starting to consider what a return to a Trump presidency might mean. While Americans might be weighing up the difference between the two candidates domestic policies, the rest of the globe is more interested in what foreign policy decisions he might make.
Donald Trump has already hinted at some areas he is particularly likely to address: China, Nato, Ukraine and Gaza among them. Recent statements during the campaign and leaked memos – as well as his last stint as president signal moves that may be ahead.
“A handful of successes — and many more failures” is how Harvard professor of international affairs Stephen Walt describes Trump’s global decisions in his first term.
Joel Rubin, deputy assistant secretary of state for legislative affairs in the Obama administration, characterised Trump’s “America First” catchphrase as “America first, but really America alone”, emphasising Trump’s isolationist credentials. But could his assertive attitudes to other nations have some positive fallout?
Take NATO for example….
Trump had a mixed relationship with Nato in his first term. After declaring the organisation “obsolete” in January 2017, he later backtracked on this position. However, much of the damage with America’s Nato allies had already been done, and relations remained frosty.
Trump has been hinting that if reelected he would cut US funding to Nato or indeed not stand by article 5 of its founding treaty, which says that if one Nato member was attacked militarily, others would come to their aid. This has already caused concern across Europe.
Some European allies have taken heed of Trump’s early warnings, and are now starting to increase their defence spending and, in some cases, increase military recruitment and reservist numbers to help deter Russia.
Some might argue that Trump’s intention when he made these comments was to increase the military capacity and spending of America’s European allies – and might suggest this is already a Trump success.
There is so much more….
Will this be good for the US if he is elected?
From an international perspective my thought is that it will not.
Any thoughts?
I Read, I Write, You Know
“lego ergo scribo”
There is a fear that under a Trump presidency, the whole of Europe would be under threat from an empire building Putin with Trump’s help. All vacations to the US would be under threat from Europe helping Trump’s isolationist policies. A disaster in the making that would be difficult to reverse under an autocracy. Hugs
Interesting thought and thanx for sharing it with me and my readers. chuq
I think most sane people on Earth fear another Trump presidency, as American influence is all-pervasive. Now Joe Biden is making more gaffes -introducing Zelenzky as Putin- at the NATO conference, I feel concerned that a Trump presidency has become inevitable.
Best wishes, Pete.
I think the media is blowing it out of proportion…..these gaffes make great headlines…..but another Trump 2.0 would be a disaster alright. chuq
From time to time I read some news blurb about the latest thing Russia is doing “behind the scenes” to support his various aggressions. Generally it’s some latest hack by Russian hack farms, a Novichok strike against someone in Europe, luring Indian or Nepalese troops to fight in Ukraine, or things similar. Just the last few days I read us and rhe Germans foiled an assassination plot by Russia on some German arms manufacturer Putin wanted knocked off to pause arms distribution to Ukraine. The last thing I heard from our intelligence services was that overt recruiting drive to solicit turncoats and spies inside Russia. Beyond that, what the hell are our agencies doing? True, the reason they are covert and secret is not to tip the Russkies what we are (hopefully) manipulating on their side. But it seems to me the best way to agitate Putin is to agitate his people. Are our agencies promoting counter-information to the Russian public? Are we trying to incite civil unrest over there? Are we dangling the cash in front of the oligarchs given their existence is all about money? Whatever happened to Radio Free Europe? Or even Voice of America? Is any of that having any affect?
I think both RFE and VOA have lost a lot of funding and they are less effective. A good question about the disruption and I think we may never know….official secrets and all. chuq
Nothing will be good for America if “He” is elected– except for him, perhaps.
What about the rest of the world? chuq
The rest of the world will have to fend for themselves.
They do not seem capable of doing that on their own. chuq
Going to have to learn…NATO will be abandoned first after Ukraine — then Putin will move on Poland or some other NATO country….and disaster will ensue.
I still do not see Russia capable of that move…if they cannot beat Ukraine I doubt they could beat Poland….Europe should have thought of this 30 years ago. chuq
Poland has always thought about this and that is why there is a NATO…
After 1939 I do not thinbk Poland will let it happen unchalle4nged…..chuq