The next president-elect, Republican Donald Trump says he plans to fundamentally change the US relationship with NATO during his second four-year term and quickly end the war in Ukraine.
During his election campaign, he talked about sending armed forces to Mexico to fight drug cartels, as well as imposing a range of tariffs on both friendly and hostile countries.
The following is an overview of the foreign policy plans that Trump has pledged to implement after taking office on January 20.
NATO, UKRAINE AND EUROPEAN ALLIES
Trump said that under his administration, America will fundamentally rethink the "purpose and mission" of NATO. He vowed to ask Europe to reimburse the US for "nearly $200 billion" spent on ammunition for Ukraine, and also did not commit to sending additional aid to the eastern European country.
At the end of his first term, Trump cut NATO defense funding and often complained that America was paying more than its fair share.
As for the war in Ukraine, he said he would resolve the conflict before taking office. But he faces legal restrictions on negotiating with foreign leaders before officially assuming the presidency, and has made little tangible progress since winning the November 5 election.
Last year, Trump said in an interview with Reuters that Kiev could have made some territorial concessions to reach a peace deal. In June, two Trump advisers told Reuters they had presented a plan to end the war in Ukraine, making it conditional on Kiev agreeing to sit down with Moscow for peace talks on future arms aid.
Vice President-elect JD Vance has signaled his tentative support for freezing the battle lines on most positions as part of a negotiated settlement of the conflict.
Although Trump signaled in early April that he would accept additional aid to Ukraine in the form of loans, Trump has remained largely silent on the issue while Congress has been bitterly wrangling over the $61 aid package. billion dollars.
CHINA, TRADE AND TAIWAN
Trump has frequently threatened to impose major new tariffs and trade restrictions on China, as well as some European allies. His proposed Reciprocal Trade Act would give him broad powers to raise retaliatory tariffs on some countries when they are determined to put up their own trade barriers. Trump has floated the idea of a universal 10 percent tariff, which could disrupt international markets, and at least a 50 percent tariff on China.
Trump has called for China's most-favored-nation status to be revoked. Typically, this status reduces trade barriers between countries. Trump vowed to introduce "aggressive new restrictions on China's right to own any vital US infrastructure". Additionally, the official GOP platform calls for banning Chinese ownership of American real estate.
On the issue of Taiwan, Trump announced that the island should pay the US for its defense because, he said, it was not giving the US anything in return and had taken "about 100%" from the US "chip business", referring to semiconductors. Trump has repeatedly stated that as long as he is in power, China will never dare to invade Taiwan.
MEXICO AND DRUGS
Trump said he would designate Mexico's drug cartels as terrorist organizations and order the Pentagon to "use special forces as appropriate" to attack their leadership and infrastructure – actions that would hardly receive the blessing of the Mexican government.
Trump also said that US Navy ships would impose a blockade against cartels, and drug dealers and gang members would be deported from the US under the Alien Enemies Act.
Human rights organizations and Democratic senators have called for the repeal of this law, which was passed in 1798. The texts give the president the power to deport foreign nationals in wartime.
The GOP platform also calls for thousands of military personnel currently overseas to be returned to the U.S. and stationed along the Mexican border to fight illegal immigration.
THE CONFLICT IN ISRAEL
Trump initially criticized Israel's leadership in the days immediately following the October 7, 2023, attack by "Hamas" and later said the Palestinian militant group must be "crushed".
While Trump's rhetoric has been belligerent, he has offered few policy solutions. It said only that it would be tougher on Iran, which has close ties to groups classified by the US as terrorist organizations, including Hamas.
Trump has also indicated that he will try to deport any "permanent resident aliens" who sympathize with "Hamas". "Foreigner with permanent residence" is a legal term that covers US permanent residents, also known as green card holders.
CLIMATE
Trump has repeatedly vowed to withdraw the US from the Paris climate accord – international agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Trump canceled US commitments to this agreement during his first term, but in 2021. Democratic President Joe Biden rejoined the country.
MISSILE DEFENSE
Trump promised to build a state-of-the-art "force field" for missile defense around the US. He did not go into details, only indicated that the leading role in this process will be played by the Space Forces – a military unit created by his government.
In the program of the Republican Party, the force field is called the "Iron Dome" – similar to the Israeli anti-missile system of the same name.
WORLD WAR THIRD
Trump has often warned that if he does not win the election, there will be a Third World War. This line took center stage in his speeches during the final months of the election campaign.
"I tell you, and I have made many predictions, but this is not a prediction because it is too bad. I don't want this to be a prediction. We are heading into World War III territory," Trump said in early September at a campaign event hosted by Fox News.
When making this prediction, the former president often linked the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the conflict between Israel and "Hamas" and the ongoing tensions between Taipei and Beijing.
Translation from English: Nikolay Velev, BTA