Donald Trump on Wednesday explained the “America first” philosophy that would inform his foreign policy if elected president, and said his changes would help “shake off the rust” that has gathered under the Obama administration.
One key element that pervades Trump’s vision is a hard negotiating stance that he’d use to press for foreign policy results that serve the U.S.
He said in everything from trade to the Iran nuclear deal, the Obama administration has been too desperate to reach deals with other countries, which led to bad deals.
“In negotiation, you must be willing to walk,” he said in his prepared remarks. “The Iran deal, like so many of our worst agreements, is the result of not being willing to leave the table. When the other side knows you’re not going to walk, it becomes absolutely impossible to win.”
An overwhelming U.S. military, and a willingness to use it to ensure the U.S. reaches its goals, is another key element.
Here are five key foreign policy goals Trump outlined in his speech:
Containing radical Islam
Trump listed the containment of radical Islam as his first major goal, and said he would get there with more cooperation, and with military force when necessary.
“Events may require the use of military force,” he said in his prepared remarks. “But it’s also a philosophical struggle, like our long struggle in the Cold War.”
In this we’re going to be working very closely with our allies in the Muslim world, all of which are at risk from radical Islamic violence,” he added.
But he said he would demand cooperation from the countries the U.S. helps.
“This has to be a two-way street — they must also be good to us and remember us and all we are doing for them,” he said.
Another piece of it is controlling the spread of radical Islam through immigrants to the U.S.
Destroying the Islamic State
While the Obama administration has said it will “degrade and ultimately destroy” the Islamic State, Trump laid it out in more stark terms.
“And then there’s ISIS. I have a simple message for them. Their days are numbered. I won’t tell them where and I won’t tell them how.”
“We must as, a nation, be more unpredictable. But they’re going to be gone. And soon,” he said.
Rebuilding the military
Trump said the U.S. armed forces have been reduced, even as U.S. nuclear armaments have been allowed to degrade.
“We will spend what we need to rebuild our military,” he said. “It is the cheapest investment we can make. We will develop, build and purchase the best equipment known to mankind. Our military dominance must be unquestioned.”
He said economic growth is a key part of this goal, and said a healthy economy would allow the U.S. to stay on the edge of technological superiority.
“We need to think smarter about areas where our technological superiority gives us an edge,” he said. “This includes 3-D printing, artificial intelligence and cyberwarfare.”
A foreign policy that serves specific U.S. interests
Trump said foreign policy for too long has allowed conditions to persist that build up in ways that come back to hurt the United States. He said he would set specific goals for specific regions of the world.
“In the Middle East, our goals must be to defeat terrorists and promote regional stability, not radical change,” he said. “We need to be clear-sighted about the groups that will never be anything other than enemies.”
He said he would seek common ground with Russia and China, but from a position of strength.
“Some say the Russians won’t be reasonable. I intend to find out,” he said. “If we can’t make a good deal for America, then we will quickly walk from the table.”
He said he would take a similar approach with China.
“China respects strength, and by letting them take advantage of us economically, we have lost all of their respect,” he said. “We have a massive trade deficit with China, a deficit we must find a way, quickly, to balance.”
Refocusing NATO, Asia alliances
Trump promised to hold a NATO summit meeting, and a separate summit with Asian allies, in order to rebalance the U.S.’s financial commitments, and find ways to focus those gatherings on common issues, like the fight against Islamic terrorism.
“I will never send our finest into battle unless necessary — and will only do so if we have a plan for victory,” he said. “Our goal is peace and prosperity, not war and destruction.”
