(VOVworld) – Donald Trump sworn into office on Friday (local time) replacing Barack Obama as President of the US. VOV analyzes the diplomatic challenges awaiting Mr. Trump.
Analysts say diplomatic challenges for Donald Trump will come from relations with Russia, China, the EU, North Korea, Iran, Syria, and multiple free trade deals.
Handling relations with Russia, China, and the EU
Relations between Russia and the US have been strained since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and the US criticized Russia’s backing of separatists in eastern Ukraine. Since his election, Donald Trump has signaled a willingness to warm up US-Russia relations. He nominated Rex Tillerson, Chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil, who has close relations with Russia, to be Secretary of State.
While the Obama administration has urged strong sanctions against Russia for its interference in the US presidential election, Donald Trump has hinted he may lift sanctions if Russia helps him in the fight against terrorism. Chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the Russian State Duma Konstantin Kosachev said Russia should be wary of Trump’s proposal.
In US relations with China, Trump will have to handle economic, trade, and cyber security challenges. He has criticized China for levying high taxes on commodities imported from the US and has threatened to impose import taxes of 45% on Chinese products. Anatol Lieven, a professor at Georgetown University and a researcher with the New American Foundation, says Trump will have no option but to build trade relations with China to protect American employees and businesses. China has protested President-elect Trump’s phone conversation with the leader of Taiwan, the first such conversation since 1979. Trump says China has not cooperated with the US on monetary, North Korea, and East Sea issues.
Trump has been strongly criticized for comments he made that NATO is outdated and that, after Britain, more countries will leave the EU. High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, has rejected Trump’s skepticism about EU cohesion.
Syria, North Korea, and trade deals
As Trump enters the White House, the Syria crisis has been going on for 6 years. Trump has mentioned the possibility of reducing American support for opposition forces and focusing resources on eliminating ISIS. Analysts say Trump will maintain the US’s military role in Syria, but he is reluctant to interfere in Syria’s reconstruction. North Korea’s nuclear tests and missile launches are unfamiliar to Trump, analysts say.
Under the slogan “America first”, Trump has advocated withdrawing the US from regional and global commitments. During his election campaign, Trump said he will abandon the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Wilbur Ross, who is Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Commerce, says the new government will also reconsider the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).