Analysis – Trump’s foreign policy message in a nutshell: ‘We can reach you’
Al Jazeera
Trump makes adversaries and reluctant partners central to his politics, pairing direct threats with transactional deals.
United States President Donald Trump’s second term in office has been defined by the abduction of Venezuela’s left-wing President Nicolas Maduro, joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran that killed the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, among hundreds, and new threats against other leaders from Latin America to even Europe.
This policy is testing alliances, legal norms, and the idea that shock action abroad yields predictable outcomes at home. At its core is a message Trump repeats in different ways: “We can reach you – and we might not protect you if you do not do what we want.”
Trump talks directly to foreign leaders, promising swift punishment or personal favour, and casts himself as the only US president “with the gloves off”.
While his supporters see strength and candour, critics underline threats and deals aimed at domestic politics as much as foreign capitals.
Trump’s decision to attack Iran has been described as the “biggest foreign policy gamble of his presidency”, with analysts saying he has pivoted from “swift, limited operations like last month’s lightning raid in Venezuela” to what could be a more protracted conflict that is already morphing into a wider regional war.
Insurers announced they were cancelling war risk coverage after the IRGC said the Strait of Hormuz was ‘closed’.
Qatar has halted its liquefied natural gas production, as India and Europe bear the brunt of soaring prices.
Analysts say the US could run low on vital interceptor missiles within weeks.
Clouds of smoke rose over Beirut’s southern suburbs as Israel escalated its bombardment of the Lebanese capital.
Eighty percent of weapons seized from Mexican cartels come from the US, according to Mexico’s defence minister. How are they making it across the border?
Satriano’s superb volley gives the visitors a 1-0 win at the Santiago Bernabeu as Real miss injured forward Mbappe.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) says it also destroyed Iranian air defence installations as well as missile and drone launch sites.
Kinshasa welcomed the sanctions while Kigali said the US move ‘unjustly’ targets Rwanda.
A protracted conflict in the Middle East could help Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.
Washington says ‘harder hits’ are still to come, as Tehran retaliates by closing the Strait of Hormuz.
Last year’s protests reflected popular disenchantment with established political parties, which are again seeking power.