“Donald Trump settled on a simple foreign policy narrative amid his second bid for the White House: Do you want World War III? Vote for the other guy” is how the Politico article summarizes Trump’s strategy ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

According to an article by Meredith McGraw, Natalie Ellison, and Gary Finenote, Trump lashed out at his successor as US president, Joe Biden, for running the Afghan case, saying he could end the war in Ukraine “in 24 hours” without specifying how way, and argued that sending tanks to Ukraine could provoke a nuclear war.

His self-promotion as a “peacemaker” capable of solving any international problem and diplomatic stalemate, and his claims of ability on the geopolitical front, are a continuation of the attitude Trump has shown in the past, both as a candidate and as president. United States, a position that he himself denied several times in practice, as noted by the corresponding publication.

Facing a clearly intense race for the GOP nomination, which will be contested by, among others, former close Trump associates such as former U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSandis Trump is trying to find the momentum that will secure him this first intra-party victory that will pit him against the Democratic presidential candidate.

“Dove among hawks”

Trump’s campaign sources told Politico that he plans to portray himself as “an anti-war dove among hawks,” which they think will resonate with Republican voters who appear divided over the war in Ukraine but are increasingly wary of Kiev’s support. USA.

“Trump is the president of the world and the first president in two generations not to start a war somewhere, and if you look at De Sandys’ record in Congress, you’ll find that he voted for greater military involvement abroad.“said a source in the group that took over the Trump campaign, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“Trump is the only person who opposed further financing of the war in Ukraine. I haven’t heard Nikki Haley say anything like that. And then? That Pompeo and Pence are for Ukraine? the same source asks — although it’s worth noting that Haley, Pence and Pompeo have called for more aid to Ukrainians, even criticizing the Biden administration for not helping enough.

“I believe that national security will become a much more important issue in 2024 than during many recent presidential elections. Of course, you would notice that a Chinese balloon is flying over the country,” John Bolton, a former Trump administration national security adviser, once a close associate of the president and now his fierce critic, recently noted.

Trump, who sees himself as less “belligerent” than other contenders for the anointing, highlights these differences by focusing on the weaknesses of his opponents.

Trump said last Thursday that Pompeo “gained more credit than he should have” for his success as US foreign policy chief, trying to downplay his rival’s foreign policy experience, even though he was the one who appointed him.

At the head of foreign policy

Trump staffers also promoted an op-ed by Senator JD Vance in the Wall Street Journal that highlighted Trump’s characteristic non-participation in foreign affairs.

The Trump team views foreign policy as an area of ​​superiority over Florida Gov. Ron DeSandis, who has little experience in diplomacy and international politics.

“Governors will have a hard time proving their foreign policy skills because they are not fulfilling their core responsibilities, so they will have to do something to move forward and prove to voters that they are capable of dealing with all these problems. issues emerging in the international arena,” said David Urban, a Republican strategist and consultant to presidential candidates.

Indeed, there are indications that De Sandys is already mobilized to cover this front. In recent months, he is said to have had telephone contacts and meetings with foreign leaders and ambassadors from Israel, Japan, the United Arab Emirates and others.

On the other hand, a person close to Haley said that the former U.S. ambassador to the UN would “advertise” his foreign policy accomplishments, including his contributions to “successes” attributed to the Trump administration, such as moving the U.S. embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv. Aviva to Jerusalem, abandoning the nuclear deal with Iran and ensuring China’s participation in sanctions against North Korea.

However, Bolton believes that Trump will be vulnerable on the issue of foreign policy when it becomes clear that he does not have a plan.

“He has no politics for almost anything, he has Donald Trump. His latest theory was that if he were president, he would resolve the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in 24 hours. I think this is so ridiculous that it is self-refuting. I think citizens and so-called Republicans are not convinced,” Bolton said.

Source: Politico