33 lines
6.2 KiB
Plaintext
33 lines
6.2 KiB
Plaintext
U.S. Foreign Policy in the Last Two Decades and the Trump Factor
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Over the past twenty years, U.S. foreign policy has gone through dramatic transformations, shaped by changing global conditions, wars, economic shifts, and the personalities of the presidents in office. From the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in 2001, through the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, to the pivot to Asia and the confrontation with rising powers like China, American global strategy has oscillated between interventionism and retrenchment. Donald Trump’s presidency (2017–2021) marked one of the most abrupt departures from traditional U.S. foreign policy since the Second World War, but it did not exist in a vacuum—it was a reaction to, and also a catalyst for, major geopolitical shifts.
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The Pre-Trump Years: 2001–2016
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In the early 2000s, U.S. foreign policy was dominated by the “War on Terror.” George W. Bush’s administration launched the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 to topple the Taliban regime and hunt down al-Qaeda. Two years later, in 2003, the U.S. invaded Iraq, citing weapons of mass destruction (which were never found). These wars defined American foreign policy for the decade and consumed vast amounts of resources. Bush promoted a neoconservative vision of spreading democracy abroad, which often translated into military interventionism.
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By the late 2000s, the costs of these wars—both financial and human—had sparked domestic fatigue. When Barack Obama took office in 2009, he promised to end “forever wars” and pursue multilateralism. His administration withdrew most U.S. combat troops from Iraq in 2011, increased the focus on Asia with the so-called “pivot to Asia,” and prioritized diplomacy, such as negotiating the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) and joining the Paris Climate Agreement. However, Obama also expanded drone warfare and authorized military operations in Libya, leading to criticism that his foreign policy was hesitant and inconsistent.
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The Trump Doctrine: America First
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Donald Trump entered office in January 2017 with the slogan “America First,” which reflected his transactional approach to foreign relations. Unlike his predecessors, he showed skepticism toward traditional alliances, international organizations, and free trade agreements. His worldview emphasized national sovereignty, economic nationalism, and the idea that U.S. allies should pay more for their own defense.
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Trump’s foreign policy broke with bipartisan consensus in several ways:
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1. Alliances and NATO: Trump repeatedly criticized NATO allies for not meeting defense spending commitments. He suggested at times that the U.S. might not defend countries that did not contribute enough, raising doubts about the alliance’s credibility. This contrasted sharply with decades of American policy emphasizing collective security.
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2. Middle East: Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions, pursuing a “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran. His administration also brokered the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states, including the UAE and Bahrain. He ordered the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in 2020, escalating tensions. At the same time, Trump sought to reduce U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan and Syria, arguing against “endless wars.”
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3. Asia and China: Trump adopted a confrontational approach toward China, launching a trade war that included tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of goods. His administration labeled China a strategic competitor and accused it of unfair trade practices, intellectual property theft, and human rights abuses. Relations deteriorated further over the COVID-19 pandemic, with Trump frequently blaming China for its spread.
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4. Europe and Russia: Trump had a controversial relationship with Russia and President Vladimir Putin. While his administration imposed sanctions on Russia and expelled diplomats, Trump personally expressed admiration for Putin, raising concerns about his commitment to countering Russian influence. He criticized the European Union as well, calling it a “foe” in trade.
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5. Multilateral Agreements: Trump withdrew the U.S. from several major international agreements and organizations, including the Paris Climate Agreement, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and UNESCO. He reduced funding for the United Nations and pulled the U.S. out of the World Health Organization during the COVID-19 crisis.
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6. Trade Policy: Trump emphasized bilateral trade deals instead of multilateral ones. He renegotiated NAFTA, replacing it with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). His use of tariffs was a central tool of diplomacy, applied not only to China but also to allies like Canada, Mexico, and the EU.
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Impact and Legacy
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Trump’s foreign policy unsettled allies and foes alike. His critics argued that he weakened the international liberal order that the U.S. had helped build after 1945, eroded trust in American commitments, and left a leadership vacuum that countries like China and Russia were eager to fill. His supporters claimed that he rebalanced relationships in America’s favor, forced allies to shoulder more responsibility, and confronted China more directly than previous administrations.
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At the same time, many elements of Trump’s approach reflected broader trends. The skepticism toward large-scale military interventions was already growing under Obama. The bipartisan consensus on treating China as a strategic rival has largely persisted into the Biden administration. Trump’s disruption accelerated these shifts but did not create them from scratch.
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The Post-Trump Continuity and Contrast
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Joe Biden’s presidency sought to restore alliances and return to multilateralism, rejoining the Paris Agreement and emphasizing NATO solidarity. However, some Trump-era policies persisted, especially the hard line on China and the focus on domestic economic strength. The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021—planned under Trump and executed under Biden—illustrated the long-term fatigue with overseas military commitments. In this sense, Trump’s presidency can be seen as both a break from tradition and part of an evolving trajectory of retrenchment, nationalism, and selective engagement.
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