The Patriot Post® · The Coming Foreign Policy Shift
President-elect Donald Trump’s impending ascendancy to the White House has already started putting the foreign policy pieces into motion. This is particularly evident in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.
Israel is ecstatic. In fact, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, knowing that Trump is a staunch ally of the Jewish state, was one of the first dignitaries to call and congratulate him. On the other hand, Iran is devastated — it had a lot to lose in this election not just militarily but economically. According to the Wall Street Journal editorial board, “News of Donald Trump’s victory sent the rial, Iran’s currency, to an all-time low [last] week.”
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is also due for a smackdown by the U.S. government after its gross overreaches. “The election also sends a warning to the International Criminal Court, which is abusing its powers to bring up Israel’s leaders on politicized charges,” the Journal added. “America is next on the ICC’s target list. Tough U.S. sanctions against the ICC are all but guaranteed after Republicans take control of Congress.” As this author has noted before, the ICC has little to no power and even less jurisdiction; however, its flagrant overreach deserves a decisive repudiation.
Over in Europe, Ukraine and Russia reacted less than pleased. Both countries know that with a Trump presidency on the horizon, decisive action will be expected of them — meaning they will be made to compromise and end the war. What that ultimately looks like will depend on these last few months of the Biden administration.
China continues to saber-rattle and threaten our South Pacific allies. The Chinese have amassed a large military, but their economy is hemorrhaging. A Trump presidency with tariffs and sanctions will compel China to come to the table and negotiate — and hopefully leave Taiwan alone.
Iran, Russia, and China all have good reason to dread another Trump administration. During his first go-around, Trump utilized a policy of “peace through strength” à la Ronald Reagan. He didn’t get us entangled in foreign wars, and he actually facilitated peace in the Middle East via the Nobel Prize-worthy Abraham Accords.
However, Trump will now be squaring up with foreign leaders who are less united and somewhat out of step with their own people, including a socialist “woke” Canada to the north and a leftist authoritarian Mexico to the south. In other words, the challenges with our immediate neighbors have changed somewhat.
The dance of international relations is a delicate one, but a more experienced Trump has cast new characters to rise to the challenge. His cabinet nominees are all fighters and will hopefully make huge strides toward America First goals.
Americans are feeling a great deal of hope with regard to international relations after Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’s fecklessness put the U.S. and the entire world in a far more dangerous place. We will have to wait with bated breath for two more months before long-overdue changes take place.