Governments around the world have been preparing for this moment for some time: the return of No. 45 — now No. 47.
After Donald Trump's defeat in the 2020 U.S. presidential election, some strategists warned that his “America First” approach had become a core component of the nation's thinking and would influence foreign policy in Washington, regardless of who the president is. They are right.
While we know the principles guiding Trump’s thinking, it is difficult, if not impossible, to know what Trump and his administration will do in specific situations. Words and documents are one thing, actions another. After all, this is a president who believes that unpredictability is an asset and prides himself on keeping those on the other side of the negotiating table off balance. Moreover, he is famously prone to the influence of the last person with whom he speaks.
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