Take nothing for granted with Trump’s foreign policy

Friends and foes alike are at the mercy of the American president’s unpredictability and impetuous nature

SCMP Editorial

Published: 9:30pm, 27 Oct 2019

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American foreign policy has been confusing under President Donald Trump, his decisions often in sharp contrast to what the world has come to expect of the United States. His order that troops pull out of northeast Syria, deserting Kurdish allies who had been instrumental in defeating Islamic State extremists, was in that vein. With the retreat, Russian and Turkish forces have moved in, Kurds are fleeing and there is a renewed spectre of global terrorism. But in the wake of another unanticipated move, the lifting of sanctions against Turkey in return for a ceasefire agreement just days after penalties had been imposed, he would appear to have enunciated a doctrine.

Kurds and their Western supporters were angered by what was perceived as betrayal. The US withdrawal gave the green light to Turkey to attack Kurdish fighters, seen as being allied with Turkish Kurds seeking an independent state in the region. Trump was accused of not understanding the vital role Kurds had played in eliminating the threat of Islamist terrorists and continued to do so through holding prisoners in areas they controlled. With their pullback under a truce and jailbreaks already reported, there is understandable concern of a renewed surge of Muslim extremism.

US accused of ‘banditry’ as it bolsters troop numbers at Syrian oilfields

Trump’s upending of foreign policy since taking office has damaged US international credibility and worried allies. But only last Wednesday, in explaining why he had lifted sanctions, was his reasoning articulated. He announced that intentions should be guided “not by ideology, but experience, history and a realistic understanding of the world”. Troops should be committed to battle “only when a vital national interest is at stake and when we have a clear objective, a plan for victory and a path out of conflict”. He said the US’ job was not to police the world and that other nations had to “step up and do their fair share”.

That is in keeping with his “America first” strategy, where the national interest goes before all else. It also appeals to his voter base; with his bid for re-election next year under way, he wants to make known that taxpayers’ money will not be used to fight wars unless there is a benefit for the US. The approach explains why he has sent 1,800 troops to Saudi Arabia to protect oilfields against the threat of attack from Iran; the US is the world’s fifth-biggest buyer of Saudi oil.

Trump’s actions and words would seem to take pressure off China; although US Navy warships have been sailing through the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea, Washington has nothing to gain by militarily confronting Beijing. But the American president’s unpredictability and impetuous nature also means that nothing should be taken for granted.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Nothing should be taken for granted with Trump’s foreign policy

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