Features of Trump's new foreign policies

The observer of political affairs notes that after US President Trump won the US presidential elections, signs of a radical change in US policies have emerged since the end of former President Biden’s term. From my point of view and observation of the situation, they have become different from previous US policies, as what can be described as coordination between them appeared in the period before Trump’s inauguration ceremony, meaning that Trump began to highlight some lines of his foreign policy, especially from the standpoint of implementing his promises to the Lebanese community that peace would prevail in Lebanon. In this context, signs of calm and peace began to appear in the region that was witnessing raging confrontations.

In Lebanon, stability and calm began before Trump’s inauguration, which was linked to the reduction of Hezbollah’s power and the end of the fighting on the northern front between Israel and southern Lebanon. There was also success in electing a new president for Lebanon (Joseph Aoun). As for Syria, there was success in toppling the ruling Baathist Assad regime in Syria, and most importantly, there were features of what could be called a smooth transition of power there, in addition to controlling the security situation there until an agreement was reached that would guarantee the building of a pluralistic, democratic Syria. On another level, it is noted that Iraq, after reducing Iranian influence in the Arab East region, will have a direct result in strengthening Iraq’s sovereignty.

Here we find that it has gradually become clear since the recent past, that is, since Trump actually took office, that the war in the region, which has been raging for more than a year, has stopped, just as Trump promised the Arabs in his election campaign. Here we are entering a new phase, the phase after peace or stability. So what does President Trump intend to do regarding foreign policy, especially in the Arab region as well as Iran? It seems that Trump realizes that Iran can be said to be bankrupt politically and economically, as it is unable to support the activity of its agents in the region, whether in Lebanon, Syria, or Hamas in Gaza. It is worth noting that Trump said in this regard that he is not confident in the possibility of continuing the ceasefire agreement that has been in place for days between Israel and Hamas, explaining that the destruction was enormous as a result of the war in Gaza, and that efforts must be made to rebuild and rebuild in a different way than in the past. This statement is undoubtedly interesting, and it raises several possibilities, some of which may be related to Trump’s background in economics and contracting, so he is interested in the economic aspect related to the reconstruction of Gaza, in addition to hinting at the possibility of normalization of relations between several parties in the region, such as Saudi Arabia and Israel, and thus reviving previously proposed agreements such as The Abraham Accords.

Regarding Iran, President Trump's first statement in this regard is that his country's and administration's policy towards Iran has proven successful in pressuring the Iranian regime, stressing that Iran is now bankrupt after a package of measures against it, including the sanctions imposed on it, which puts Iran in a state where it cannot expand its oil sales as it did before, and it also cannot support anyone it used to support before, as Iran's agents are also bankrupt, including Hezbollah, Hamas and all its agents in the region, stressing also that wars in the world must stop, including for example the war between Ukraine and Russia, as this war from Trump's point of view should not have broken out in the first place, and the same opinion regarding the events of October 7, as Israel should not have been exposed to this attack, and the resulting devastating war between Israel and Hamas.

Trump's promises during the election campaign undoubtedly clarify the features of his foreign policy, as is the case with his statement immediately after his inauguration and arrival at the White House, which he arrived at after a four-year hiatus. Now he is preparing to manage several files, including the Middle East file and the raging war in it, which he succeeded in pressuring to stop before his inauguration. Now his foreign policy seeks to conclude peace agreements between Israel and the Arab countries in the region, such as Saudi Arabia and other countries. At the same time, as I indicated earlier, the status or role of Iran in the region cannot be ignored. It is an important player that cannot be overlooked, despite the severe blows that the Iranian regime received, especially in the last year 2024 AD, including specifically the sanctions imposed during Trump's first term (2017-2021), as that period witnessed Trump's cancellation of the previous nuclear agreement with Iran. Therefore, Trump believes that Iran must lower its hostile ceiling if it does not want the US to continue its policy of pressure on it.

Regarding the US policy with Russia, and the position on the war with Ukraine, which is witnessing a noticeable shift during the Trump era, the most important thing is that he did not show interest or support for Kiev in the war, as we cannot forget or ignore Trump's close relations with President Putin, commenting on many occasions that if he was at the head of the White House administration, the war would not have broken out between them in the first place, and I believe that in his foreign policy regarding this file, he will inevitably direct pressure on Kiev to accept a settlement for this file, even if it is an agreement that does not meet its political mood and ambitions.

As for the NATO file and the relationship and partnership between America and the members of the alliance, it seems that Trump sees them as a burden on America, especially since he insists and stresses on them the need to settle and pay their dues, so that America can continue to defend them. As for the China file and managing the American relationship with it, specifically what can be called the economic war, Trump threatens a trade war between them that includes imposing high customs tariffs on Chinese goods, which will play a role in limiting China's exports, especially in industries related to artificial intelligence, but after appointing (Elon Musk) to his new administration, especially since Musk enjoys good relations with the Chinese leadership, it can be said that this may be useful in reaching certain settlements related to the China file.

Therefore, we may notice significant changes in Trump's policies in his second term. This period of his rule will witness, in terms of the main files, a bold and strict imprint from Trump. He does what he says and applies what he wants, and this was clear in his political positions. Immediately after coming to power, Trump declared a national emergency on the border with Mexico, with the aim of confronting illegal immigration, which America has been suffering from. In addition, Trump announced, in terms of economic policy, that he gave his administration the order to work to reduce inflation, lower energy prices, and strive to improve the high standard of living globally. He also confirmed that he would immediately withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, which was announced in 2015. He confirmed all of this policy direction in the presidential inauguration speech. In addition, he confirmed his intention to control the Panama Canal instead of China's intention to control it, knowing that 6% of the world's trade passes through it. At the same time, the President of Panama announced that the canal belongs to Panama and will remain under its sovereignty.

Regarding the Gaza file, Trump stated that he will punish every country that supports and backs Hamas, and will also work to support Israel’s annexation of the West Bank, without sending any American soldier to war in the Middle East, but he will give Israel everything it needs to fight what he called “terrorism.” This step does not mean ignoring the rights of citizens in the West Bank after the annexation process, stressing the need to solve the problem of the Philadelphi crossing, as Egypt will have a prominent importance in solving this problem, considering the crossing is important to Egypt.

Finally, I want to conclude my article by focusing and paying attention to what is related to the Syrian file specifically, since Syria and its political future will inevitably have a political impact on neighboring countries, especially with regard to democracy and the new constitution that will determine the future of the new Syrian state. It is supposed to have a constitution that is different from the past, undeveloped constitutions, with the exception of the constitution of the era of King Faisal I bin Hussein in Syria in 1920, which consisted of 12 chapters, including the third chapter related to the freedom and rights of individuals and groups. It was a developed constitution at that time compared to what was known in Syria from constitutions such as the Baath Party constitution, which included the rule of a single party with sole authority. It is expected that President Trump will resolve the noise and congestion existing in Syria today, especially with regard to the dispute between the three parties, which is the presence of Turkey in Syria and the current administration represented by Ahmed al-Sharaa and their relationship with the Democratic Syria. Trump will pressure the three parties to obtain a solution in Syria as soon as possible. He certainly does not want instability for Syria, and we Arabs also want nothing but security for Syria. I believe that the Syrian people have suffered a lot and the time has come for them to live in a state. A safe democracy for all the different components of Syrian society, and I believe that Trump’s move towards a normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia, which is intended to be concluded, will push him to move in the same direction with regard to Iraq and Syria in moving towards peace agreements as well, and he will insist and emphasize that Syria be a state free of weapons and militants outside the authority of the new Syrian state and its national army, and America will remain a supporter of the issue of a democratic Syria and an ally with it for this purpose, since ISIS is still present in Syrian territory until now, in addition to the exposure of the cities of Manbij and the Tishreen Dam area to the Turkish military attack, and American policy will follow this trend until the situation is resolved and the idea of establishing a new democratic, pluralistic Syrian state crystallizes.

President Trump, as is evident from the features of his policies, seeks peace and reconciliation between the parties, and certainly this can achieve a necessary goal, which is building nations and, more importantly, building people’s souls and their belief in the idea of peace, stability and justice. Love, peaceful coexistence and true citizenship, not fake citizenship, between all components of society, its spectrums, ethnicities and religious beliefs are all important issues in our world today.