Growing Credibility Gap Between President Trump and Western Leaders
President Trump has created global geo-political uncertainties. His early moves have been described as disruptive. Within weeks of his taking over, the credibility gap between what he says and what he is likely to achieve, is growing. However, it is unlikely that his popularity in the US and amongst his right-wing fans abroad will decrease in the short run. Western countries are likely to follow his stricter immigration policy.
Starting with NATO, he is moving away from traditional U.S. alliances. He believes that these are scams by which foreigners take advantage of gullible Americans. He is negotiating a peace deal with Russia regarding the Ukraine war without involving Ukraine. Instead, he has started a war of words with President Zelenskyy. After supporting Ukraine against Russia for three years the US has now voted against a UN resolution which condemned Russia for the invasion.
European countries, including the UK, are caught between supporting Ukraine and not offending President Trump. He seems to have compromised the negotiating position of Ukraine and Europe. The only positive outcome is that the other NATO countries have been compelled to look at ground realities and to increase their own contributions to the defence of Ukraine and Europe.
Trump has praised powerful nuclear-armed opponents, Russia, China and even North Korea. He has shown no hesitation in violating treaty commitments or ripping up trade agreements, even deals he negotiated himself. He believes that being unpredictable is an asset. However, that also shows that he cannot be relied upon and some predict that countries can move away from the US to look elsewhere for allies.
In his defence, his supporters insist that he is way ahead and that his strategy will unfold in due course. One example given is his proposed deal with Ukraine to secure US access to rare materials. That would ensure large scale US investment and presence in the country and also secure US defence of Ukrainian against Russia.
For Trump, America comes first. However, he is likely to find out soon that no country can be an island in the world today. He is increasingly becoming involved in geo-political games despite his America first policy. His plan for Gaza met outright opposition from the Middle Eastern countries. He wants to turn Gaza into a Riviera of the Middle East and force over 2 million people to leave their country. He says that Gaza would be handed over to the US by Israel and its residents encouraged to move elsewhere with no right of return. Human rights groups see that as a possible war crime under international law.
In his first term as President, he was labelled as an isolationist due to his self-declared opposition to military adventures. Yet, this time, he is willing to send troops to Gaza, Greenland and the Panama Canal to secure desirable real estate.
He wants to stop foreign aid and does not seem to understanding the policy objectives behind such aid. These are not limited to charity alone. Such aid is a means of asserting global influence and there are long term trade and economic objectives.
His foreign policy represents a total break from the traditional role of America to ensure world peace, stabilize the global economy and, when feasible, promote democracy and human rights.
Yet, many believe that the world is a safer place with the arrival of President Trump with his transactional politics.
Gurmukh Singh OBE
Principal Civil Servant retd (UK)
E-mail: sewauk2005@yahoo.co.uk
Sikh ideology articles: https://www.sikhmissionarysociety.org/