In an exclusive interview with Trump, Bloomberg revealed his major changes in the diplomatic stance of the United States over the years, especially on Taiwan and Saudi Arabia.
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ToggleTrump’s transactional foreign policy: could trigger global turmoil
Trump’s transactional view of foreign policy and his desire to “win” in every deal could have far-reaching consequences around the world and could even undermine U.S. alliances. Asked about the U.S. defense commitment to Taiwan, Trump signaled that despite recent bipartisan support for the island, his stance on resisting Chinese aggression is lukewarm at best.
Revisiting U.S. Commitments to Taiwan and Saudi Arabia
Skepticism about Taiwan
Part of Trump's skepticism stems from economic resentment. He said: "Taiwan took away our chip business. How stupid is that? They took away all our chip business. They are very rich." Trump wants Taiwan to pay for U.S. protection. "I don't think we are any different than an insurance policy," he asked. "Why? Why do we do this?"
Practical difficulties in defending Taiwan
Trump also expressed doubts about the practical difficulties of defending the tiny island halfway around the world. "Taiwan is 9,500 miles away, it's only 68 miles from China," he said. Abandoning its commitment to Taiwan would represent a major shift in U.S. foreign policy, as important as ending support for Ukraine. But Trump appears poised to fundamentally change the terms of those relationships.
Friendly attitude towards Saudi Arabia
Contrary to his attitude toward Taiwan, Trump's views on Saudi Arabia are more friendly. He said he had spoken with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud in the past six months and he did not believe U.S. oil and gas production would unsettle Saudi Arabia's dominance. Trump also said he would always protect Saudi Arabia.
Trump wants to renew ties with Arabs, not get closer to China
Trump accused Biden and former President Obama of eroding U.S.-Arab relations, saying they pushed the country toward a key rival. "They're not with us anymore, they're with China. But they don't want to be with China. They want to be with us."
Trump’s personal ties to Arab business interests
Trump’s preference for closer ties with Saudi Arabia is not just based on U.S. foreign policy. On July 1, the Trump Organization and DAR Global announced plans to build a Trump Tower and luxury hotel in the Saudi city of Jeddah. The investment fund founded by his son-in-law Jared Kushner also received $2 billion in investment from the Saudi government's wealth fund.
Western allies have begun to respond to the Trump era
Western allies are now familiar with Trump's personal and erratic foreign policy and have taken numerous steps to prepare for his possible return to the White House. These include increasing defense spending, transferring control of military aid to Ukraine to NATO, working to improve relationships with Trump advisers and related think tanks, and reaching out to Republican governors and thought leaders to speculate on his intentions.
Ukraine continues to cry for help: Don’t just look at the direction of the election
At a NATO summit in Washington, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged allies to act quickly to help his country repel a Russian invasion rather than wait for November election results to decide what to do.
"American Defense" for European Defense
Dan Caldwell, a policy adviser at the right-wing think tank Defense Priorities, said: In fact, assuming that the United States has other more pressing national security priorities and domestic issues, Europe should operate on the basis of "preventing the United States."
Trump’s transactional foreign policy could have far-reaching consequences around the world. His cold attitude towards Taiwan and friendly attitude towards Saudi Arabia show that he is ready to redefine US international relations. However, it remains to be seen whether these policies will achieve the desired effect. Western allies are also preparing for possible changes and working hard to ensure their own national defense and security.
