PNN – Foreign Policy wrote: US President Donald Trump is destroying US foreign policy by appointing a large number of officials loyal to him, taking a belligerent approach with many countries, ignoring the nationalist sentiments of other countries, breaking norms, violating agreements, and undermining scientific advances and innovation.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, the Foreign Policy website wrote in a report by Stephen M. Walt, a critic of American policy in the international arena: Even if “Signalgate” (the scandal of the leak of a White House security group chat about the attack on Yemen) had not happened, it only took less than three months for Trump and his appointees to surpass all of their predecessors in the scandal of American foreign policy.
Trump has adopted a five-step guide to destroying American foreign policy.
Step 1: Appoint loyal and flattering people
If you want to destroy the country, the first step is to make sure that no one can stop you and ruin everything. So you must appoint people who are incompetent, blindly loyal, completely dependent on your support, unprincipled, and rid yourself of anyone who might be principled, independent, and qualified for a profession.
As American journalist Walter Lippmann said, “In an atmosphere where everyone thinks alike, no one thinks much,” and this makes it easier for a leader who wants to throw the country into a pit.
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Step Two: Making Enmity with Countries
International policymaking is inherently competitive, which is why countries with more trading partners and fewer enemies are better off. A successful foreign policy is one that maximizes support for others and minimizes opposition.
The Trump administration has repeatedly threatened its European allies. It has threatened to seize territory belonging to Denmark and has started unnecessary conflicts with Colombia, Mexico, Canada, and several other countries.
His vice president, J.D. Vance, publicly insulted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and, like mafia bosses, pressured Ukraine to sign a mining deal in exchange for American aid.
The US government also closed the Agency for International Development and withdrew the country from the World Health Organization, saying it had no interest in helping other communities.
The Trump administration also ignored warnings from economists from across the political spectrum last week and imposed tariffs on a list of countries that are both friendly and hostile to the United States.
Referring to the impact of Trump’s tariffs on the markets’ decline and intensifying predictions of a US recession, the author wrote: “This is a wound that America has inflicted on itself, making millions of Americans poorer, even if they do not own shares in the stock market.”
Step Three: Ignoring the Power of Nationalism
Trump has tried to portray himself as a strong nationalist, even though he seems to be more interested in his own interests than in the country. But he fails to understand that countries are equally likely to have nationalistic sentiments.
When Trump constantly discredits the leaders of other countries, threatens to seize their territory, or even talks about annexing them, he incites a lot of nationalist anger, and politicians in these countries quickly realize that standing up to him makes them more popular at home.
Step Four: Breaking Norms, Breaking Agreements, and Being Unpredictable
Wise leaders of powerful countries understand that norms, laws, and institutions can be useful tools for managing relations with each other and controlling weaker states. Great powers will rewrite or break the rules when necessary, but doing so repeatedly or on a whim forces others to seek more reliable partners.
Unpredictability also hurts businesses. Companies can’t make smart investment decisions if U.S. policy changes overnight. A reputation for being untrustworthy discourages others from doing business with the United States in the future.
Step Five: Ignoring the Foundations of American Power
In the modern world, economic power, military capability, and the well-being of the people depend above all on “knowledge.” America’s scientific and technological superiority has been the main reason for its economic and military power for decades. That is why China is pouring trillions of dollars into scientific research and has created a growing number of world-class universities and research organizations. Therefore, a president who seeks to maintain American power must, above all else, keep the country at the forefront of science and technology.
As a result of Trump’s actions, foreign scientists will seek other collaborators, jeopardizing Washington’s ability to attract elites to study and work in the country. In fact, some US-based scientists are likely to immigrate to countries where their work is still sufficiently supported and respected. Trump is destroying a key element of US power, credibility, and influence.