Foreign policy is a hot topic among politicians today, especially in regards to the presidential candidates for the Nov. 8 election. Not only does foreign policy greatly affect all U.S. citizens, but it also lays the foundation for America’s future. Our relationships with other countries are imperative to our growth and advancement, and without a strong, smart president to maintain or block those relationships, the U.S. will simply not survive.
Today, Donald Trump explained an “America First” foreign policy strategy in what was described as being a monumental speech at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.
“It’s time to shake the rust off America’s foreign policy,” the confident politician began. “‘America first’ will be the major and overriding theme of my administration.”
In the beginning of the speech, the Republican front-runner chastised President Obama’s nuclear agreement with Iran and his family’s travels to Cuba. Along with attacking Obama, the real estate mogul mentioned that he holds Hillary Clinton and Obama accountable for the “reckless, rudderless and aimless foreign policy” in the Middle East.
According to the New York Times, the proud candidate made little progress in going in depth about his contrived policies or programs. While the Republican candidate expressed that U.S. actions in Iraq, Syria and Libya helped “unleash” the Islamic State and its terrorist allies, he failed to provide a solution to this problem.
As Fox News reported, because ISIS is rioting in the Middle East and has killed hundreds of Americans in the Middle East, Europe and in the U.S., it is inadequate for a potential presidential candidate to say “yadda, yadda I’ll beat ISIS” and provide no explanation of how that is going to be done.
The presidential hopeful also made it very clear that using weapons when necessary will be a priority if he becomes president.
“I will not hesitate to deploy military force when there is no alternative” he said. “But if America fights, it must only fight to win. I will never send our finest into battle unless necessary, and I mean absolutely necessary, and will only do so if we have a plan for victory with a capital ‘V.’”
Clearly, Donald Trump does not have a well-established foreign policy set in place. What is scary is the potential for our relationships with other countries to go south, in turn making the U.S. vulnerable to surprise attacks, manipulation, deceptive tactics, etc.
Do we really want a president who blames past politicians for the social state of the U.S.? Our next president should have a well thought out policy that promises a bright future for the U.S.
Trump’s vague plans fail to provide citizens with the security and stability they need to feel safe in this country. Without strategic relations, the U.S. will have to choose to either sink and admit defeat, or swim through the chaos.
See the full speech below.
Featured image via Getty by Justin Sullivan.
