Donald Trump on Foreign Policy: ‘America First’

“America comes first, and everybody else pays.” This is, in essence, the way in which Donald Trump envisages his foreign policy if he is to become president of the United States. Less than one week after his meeting with the Washington Post editorial team, the Republican candidate reinforces his vision in a long interview with The New York Times. According to the Republican front-runner, America is no longer a rich country, but instead is heavily indebted.

Consequently, the U.S. must now require its allies to contribute to global safety instead of wasting resources acting as world policemen. The main countries involved include Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Japan, and European countries, namely Germany.

NATO Is ‘Obsolete’

The multimillionaire has declared himself prepared to put an end to U.S consumption of Saudi Arabian oil, as well as to recall U.S. troops stationed in South Korea and Japan if they refuse to find a better way to share the burden – even if this means letting both countries develop their own nuclear arsenals. What’s more, the businessman judges NATO to be “obsolete” and would willingly replace it with an organization centered on the fight against terrorism.

As for the conflict in Syria, Trump has criticized Barack Obama’s “disgraceful and idiotic” approach, which aimed to pave the way toward a political transition negotiated with the Bashar Assad regime, creating a military coalition with the Islamic State. “You can’t be fighting two people that are fighting each other, and fighting them together,” he said, positioning himself in favor of the creation of “safe zones” in Syria funded by the Gulf States and Germany.

Defending American Interests

Contrary to interventionism, traditionally dominant in U.S. creation of foreign policy, the business tycoon intends to focus on the defense of U.S. interests, particularly in terms of American relations with China, where he plans to use business as a means of pressure. “I want to be unpredictable,” announced Trump, who, for the time being, isn’t ruling out a military confrontation in the South China Sea.