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By John Ubaldi
Contributor, In Homeland Security
Throughout his presidential campaign, Donald Trump has given off-the-cuff, contradictory and often bizarre answers with regard to foreign policy. Last Wednesday, he had the chance to cement his understanding of global issues during a speech at Washington’s Mayflower hotel. Unfortunately, Trump’s foreign policy speech missed the mark.
Trump’s speech was his chance to signal to the nation and to our allies that he is serious and has an international vision for the United States. His address played well to his fervent political base, but did nothing to soothe the current global angst about a potential Trump presidency.
An excerpt of Trump’s ‘America First’ foreign policy speech on April 27:
Throughout Trump’s foreign policy speech, he reiterated a common theme that resonates with his base: an “America First” foreign policy. This rhetorical sound bite played well to his supporters and to liberal audiences. These audiences believe that the United States should first focus on America’s needs instead of “seeking after monsters to destroy,” referencing President John Quincy Adams’ famous 1821 Fourth of July speech.
The unfortunate part is that both sides use this phrase all too often without fully understanding the full context of what President Adams said. The common theme in the Adams address was his belief that the Declaration of Independence should not only be for America, but for humanity.
Trump’s Foreign Policy Speech Showed Contrast to Previous Policies
The speech given by Trump was his global signal that he would put American needs before those of other countries. This statement is a sharp contrast to the disengaged foreign policy of President Obama and the interventionist policy of President George W. Bush, in regard to the Middle East.
Trump’s “America First” foreign policy strategy has its origins in U.S. history. This same motto was used by a group – The America First Committee (AFC) – virulently opposed to the U.S. involvement in World War II, even though our allies fought for their lives against the forces of fascism. This isolationist attitude ended abruptly with the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941.
After the end of World II, the U.S. emerged as a global superpower and the leader of the free world. Its unmatched military and economic power became the linchpin on which global security depended. This war cemented America as the beacon of freedom.
Trump, Other Candidates Fail to Understand Unique Role of the US on World Stage
Nations around the world criticize the United States with regard to its foreign policy strategy. However, those nations at least have a voice with America and see the U.S. as an objective arbitrator. What would a world look like if Russia or China replaced the United States as the global superpower?
In the past, President Obama based his foreign policy on the assertion that global problems occurred because the United States acted in an unconscionable, duplicitous manner. With Trump’s vision of ending America’s global role, he wants to place American interests first and be “unpredictable”. This tactic may work in the real estate world, but it sends shivers to our allies around the globe.
The first aspect of this foreign policy that Trump mentioned was that our allies do not provide for their own security and rely on the United States for their collective safety. “We have spent trillions of dollars over time – on planes, missiles, ships, equipment – building up our military to provide a strong defense for Europe and Asia. The countries we defend must pay for the cost of this defense. If not, the U.S. must be prepared to let these countries defend themselves.”
Trump Contradicts Himself During Speech
Trump first mentioned that our allies should pay for having U.S. forces in their country and also pay for the defense costs of the security umbrella America provides for Europe and Asia. Trump then said that the United States can’t be relied on and needs to be a better ally.
These statements leave our allies confused and nervous on what a Trump presidency would look like.
Politico reported that Trump’s complaint that America’s NATO allies do not pay their fair share to support the European security alliance echoes at least one influential foreign policy thinker: Barack Obama. In last week’s address to the people in Hannover, Germany, Obama scolded Europeans for being “complacent” about their own defense.
Obama also complained about “free riders” from Europe to the Middle East. He said that these regions enjoy the benefits of U.S. protection without spending or risking more themselves.
President Obama has never stated as Trump did on Wednesday “to let these countries defend themselves.” Would he pull the U.S. out of NATO?
European and Asian Allies Nervous About Trump’s Future Policies
Trump’s foreign policy speech also ignored Russian activities in the Ukraine and Chinese challenges to the U.S. in the Pacific. For U.S. allies, the lack of attention to these topics caused disquiet among European and Asian leaders.
“I believe an easing of tensions and improved relations with Russia—from a position of strength—is possible. Common sense says this cycle of hostility must end. Some say the Russians won’t be reasonable. I intend to find out. If we can’t make a good deal for America, then we will quickly walk from the table.”
Throughout his speech, Trump never mentioned Russian aggression in the Ukraine. Does this mean Trump would strike a deal with President Vladimir Putin, leaving him a sphere of influence in Eastern Europe and in the Baltic countries?
Incidentally, these three countries are NATO members. Eastern Europe remembers all too well how the West negotiated away their freedom to appease Russia in the past.
Trump then turned his attention to Asia. He criticized China on economic issues and industrial espionage, but said nothing about China challenging the U.S. in the Pacific region.
“Fixing our relations with China is another important step towards a prosperous century. China respects strength. By letting them take advantage of us economically, we have lost all of their respect. We have a massive trade deficit with China, a deficit we must find a way, quickly, to balance. A strong and smart America is an America that will find a better friend in China. We can both benefit or we can both go our separate ways.”
Will a Trump deal with China give it greater sway in East Asia? How will this play with our Asian allies who are leery of an unchecked China and a disengaged America?
Trump Needs Better Understanding of How the World Views America
In a 1976 speech in Washington, D.C, former Russian exile and Gulag survivor Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn stated, “The course of history — whether you like it or not — has made you the leaders of the world. Your country can no longer think provincially.
Your political leaders can no longer think only of their own states, of their parties, of petty arrangements which may or may not lead to promotion. You must think about the whole world and when the new political crisis in the world will arise (I think we have just come to the end of a very acute crisis and the next one will come any moment), the main decisions will fall anyway on the shoulders of the United States of America.”
He continued, “America — in me and among my friends and among people who think the way I do over there, among all ordinary Soviet citizens — evokes a sort of mixture of feelings of admiration and of compassion. Admiration at the fact of your own tremendous forces, which you perhaps don’t even recognize yourselves.
You’re a country of the future; a young country; a country of still untapped possibilities; a country of tremendous geographical distances; a country of tremendous breadth of spirit; a country of generosity; a country of magnanimity.
But these qualities — strength, generosity and magnanimity — usually make a man and even a whole country trusting, and this already several times has done you a disservice.”
The next president, whether that president is Democratic or Republican, will have to make decisions on day one. The new president should understand those decisions and their ramifications and should not base them on bluster.