Donald Trump as US President New World Disorder on the Rise By -Mohammad Tayeb Uddin
America, always looked for stability, continuity and as a guarantor of the liberal world order, now has become under Donald J. Trump one of the most disruptive global force. He has been in the headlines every day on different issues from the start. By using executive order, President Trump’s ban on immigrants from seven Muslim majority countries, building wall in Mexican – US border, moving ahead with plans to relocate the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, imposing new sanctions on Iran and refusing nuclear deal and making close relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his threat to come out of NAFTA, cut down US subscription to the UN Fund and NATO, and the US withdrawal from the TPP agreement have created tremendous changes over America’s longstanding foreign policies. Donald Trump’s misogynistic statements have also extremely been criticized. In his swearing-day, the women in 60 countries of the world protested against it. These are bound to have negative impacts on global politics and will prove detrimental to US interest in the long run. As a leader of free world and promoter of globalization, we can’t expect these arrogant policies from him. So the global protests are raised against these decisions. The US cannot live an isolated life in the name of “America first.” The President must understand the ground realities and act accordingly before it is too late. Some of his arrogant decisions and foreign policies are discussed below.
Travel Ban
President Trump signed an executive order to keep refugees from entering the country for 120 days and immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim nations out for three months. The countries affected are Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia. The ban also on green card holders and people with valid visas alike. Some travelers who were in the air when Trump signed the order weren’t able to enter the country when they landed. Some were detained. Others were sent back to where they flew in from. There’s panic in some US colleges and universities that have a large number of foreign students. Some students and faculty members fear they’ll have to decide between careers or families. Trump policies have also violated immigration laws. At the same time, he was postponed entering refugee for four months in the United States. The prohibition on Syrian refugees will continue until further orders. It will seriously hamper the right of people to take shelter. Trump should remember that his grandfather came to the United States as refugee from Germany, and his mother came from Scotland, his wife from Slovenia. The white house officials also said that the number of Muslim countries may increase in the banned list. In particular, Pakistan and other countries may be added to the list. Hundreds showed up at airports across the country from New York to Atlanta to Dallas to Seattle to protest. Vocal crowds against the order gathered outside the White House. Foreign leaders slammed the ban. Even some members of the President’s own party joined in the protests. Prominent personalities and human rights groups have condemned this order. The West rather than Muslim countries protested against this orders. Iran and the Iran-influenced Iraq originally protested. The rest of the Muslim world was completely silent. Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) only issued a statement. The Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League have remained silent. After signing the order, the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Egypt held a telephone conversation with Trump. They didn’t discuss with him about the travel ban. More than 10 million people signed in a petition against the president’s visit to the UK. Trump’s order sent shock waves through the business world, too, especially the tech industry. Apple CEO Tim Cook and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg denounced the executive order and promised to help employees affected by it. Why are those seven countries? This is a million questions. The Trump administration pointed the finger at former President Obama .Trump has brought up 9/11 as part of the justification for keeping people from certain countries out, none of the countries where the 9/11 hijackers came from — Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon — was on the list. It is certainly a discrimination .So far he has taken this policy to keep the country safe from terrorists. But the ban would only help ISIS and other militant groups to recruit more terrorists. Two orders have been suspended following an appeal court order. So Trump dismissed the attorney general and has appointed a new conservative Attorney General.
Building wall in Mexico-US border
US President Donald Trump signed executive orders calling for a border wall in Mexico-US border and his administration appeared to embrace a Republican proposal to impose a 20 percent tax on all imported goods while asserting the proceeds would pay for a wall along the Mexican border. But Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto’s said that Mexico would never pay for it and cancelled his upcoming visit to the US. Trump wants to build wall because he think Mexicans are rapists and importing crimes to the United States. Moreover, The Trump administration could threaten to pull out of security agreements with Mexico that help the country in its war on organized crime and the drug trade. His stance against Mexico, is mainly commercial. It is also a rich country. The United States has trade deficit with Mexico. In addition, fresh vegetables, fruits and industrial products are imported to the United States from Mexico. If Trump imposes additional tax on these imported goods, the American people have to bear the liability of tax. Moreover if Mexican workers don’t come, US agriculture will fall to threat. Building wall will ultimately hamper US economy and its agriculture sector.
Imposing sanctions on Iran
Mr. Trump opposed the nuclear agreement with Iran and threatened to cancel this landmark nuclear deal. Throughout the U.S. presidential campaign, Donald Trump criticized the Obama administration for being “too soft” on Iran, and for allowing it to gain strength in the Middle East. In his first weeks in office, Trump is eager to show that he will take a more aggressive and confrontational approach against Iran, which he called “the number one terrorist state”. The Trump administration imposed sanctions on 13 people and a dozen companies in response to Iran’s recent a medium-range ballistic missile test. Although Iranian officials said the launch did not violate a United Nations Security Council resolution. But Trump fired off a series of tweets, including one that warned: “Iran is playing with fire – they don’t appreciate how ‘kind’ President Obama was to them. Not me!” Trump’s these comments and decisions aren’t careful. As he has signed an executive order giving the Pentagon and national security officials thirty days to submit a plan for “defeating” Islamic State so the new administration needs Iran’s cooperation in its fight against Islamic State, in both Syria and Iraq.
Moving US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem
On the campaign trail Mr. Trump announced with much fanfare that he would move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to what he described as “the eternal capital of the Jewish people, Jerusalem.” Other presidents have made similar statements in the past but have always found reasons to postpone following through on their promise. He is going to hurt the sentiments of Muslims by announcing to transfer embassy and to support one state policy of Israel. Moving the embassy would be a serious mistake it could not only create demonstrations which could potentially turn violent, not just in Jerusalem but in Muslim capitals all over the world. It also would be a violation of international law, and a huge setback to peace hopes. More immediately, there are fears it could set off a wave of unrest — perhaps even street protests and violence — in the Palestinian territories and across the Arab world. Strategic co-operation between Israel and a number of Arab partners” like the Saudis and other Gulf states, who are today closer to Israel in their strategic outlook given their common fear of rising Iranian power may be stopped because of embassy moving to Jerusalem. It also could interfere in economic relationships between Israel and Jordan. Moreover, the Trump presidency, hoping it will back a program of vigorous settlement expansion in Palestine by Israel. Recently encouraging by Trump, Israeli parliament has approved a new settlement policy in Palestine. By this way America will also lose the support of Muslim countries.
Bottom of Form Trade War
Trump has already begun trade war by withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership which once viewed as the crown jewel of Barack Obama’s international trade policy. China will seek to replace itself in the deal or add TPP nations to its own free trade negotiations, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), excluding the US. He also threated to come out from NAFTA. The free trade agreement between Canada, Mexico and the United States has been a major boon to the Mexican economy, but Trump believes that it siphoned jobs from the US, shipping them south. Manufacturing jobs in the United States have declined significantly since 2000. Exports to the US have given the manufacturing industry and employment in Mexico a major boost. Eighty percent of Mexican manufactured exports go to the United States — nearly half are automobiles. Getting rid of free trade between the countries would hurt the Mexican auto industry in two ways: by raising the cost of vehicles exported to the US and, if imported supplies are taxed, by raising the cost of production for Mexico. Imposing punitive tariffs on Mexican and Chinese imports, provoking a trade war will damage economic growth and eliminate jobs around the world. As the Trump administration threatens to impose punitive tariffs on imported goods, American allies are looking to China, which has capitalized on a leadership vacuum in world affairs by offering itself as a champion for global trade and engagement.
Trump’s attitudes towards the EU and NATO
Trump’s recent statements and attitudes toward the EU and NATO could lead to ‘unprecedented changes in US foreign policy’. It could bring unprecedented changes to longstanding alliances among Western countries. Trump questioned the value of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance when he was asked whether he understood why many in Eastern Europe feared Russian aggression. He said that NATO had problems,” Number one it was obsolete, because it was, you know, designed many, many years ago. Number two — the countries aren’t paying what they’re supposed to pay.” He also appeared indifferent to the EU. People want their own identity, so if you ask me, others, I believe others will leave,” He also said that the EU’s future didn’t matter much for the US. German Chancellor Angela Merkel told recently that Europeans “have our destiny in our own hands.” Trump also welcomed Brexit. He said British PM that “Brexit’s going to be a wonderful thing for your country,” He has already declared that he wouldn’t engage in democracy promotion in abroad. His declaration may encourage authoritarian ruler around the world. Now Trump’s stance is contrary to the spirit of independence and the values ??of their society. Trump’s these statements towards the EU and NATO may isolate America from the rest of the world and Russia may get more opportunity from it. China may rise as world leader. In next future multipolar world may be appeared.
Trump’s policies have created world disorder. Some US enemies like Russia are becoming his friends, and longtime US allies like Germany are wondering whether America will be there for them anymore. Geopolitical groups and alliances like the EU and NATO that have underpinned US global leadership for generations are reeling from Trump’s disparaging comments. Amid the tumult, world leaders are hurriedly repositioning themselves to deal with the new world disorder that the incoming American president seems to herald. China, for example, despite its Communist political system, is moving into a vacuum left by Trump’s hostility to free trade deals to position itself as the champion of unfettered and open commerce. Russian President Vladimir Putin is emerging as Trump’s most vocal defender, despite allegations of Moscow having cyber hacked in the US election. In the Arab world, US allies are mustering to head off the firestorm they fear if Trump honors his campaign vow to move the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. And in the Western Hemisphere, another traditional American friend, Mexico, is insisting it won’t pay for the wall Trump has pledged to build on the Southern border. Even Canada is bracing for tense ties with its neighbor since the President-elect has promised to renegotiate. Mr. Trump has already criticized NATO as obsolete while demanding that member states pay more, calling into question the alliance that has maintained security across much of Europe for more than six decades. He has provoked fears of a clash with China beyond issues of commerce by taking a congratulatory call from the president of Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing claims as part of its territory. In shutting American borders to people from predominantly Muslim countries, Mr. Trump risks inflaming tensions with Middle Eastern nations while widening a void with democratic allies over basic values. China is working to assume the mantle. President Xi Jinping of China used an address in Davos, to submit his nation’s bid as a reliable champion of expanded trade. American conscious people have extremely become disappointed about radical changes of Trump’s foreign policy. However, American peoples are struggling against new president’s arrogant decisions through the law, the courts and the streets. His anger against the media has been reached to the threat and hatred. Nobody thought that it might happen in America. How will the country lead the free world?
Mohammad Tayeb Uddin is a student of International Relations, University of Dhaka.