THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
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Isolationist policies not in US interest 

Isolationist policies not in US interest 

Should Trump follow such a path, he will pave the way for greater Chinese influence over Asean 

Every incoming US president since World War II has talked about the burden of leadership in the international arena and asked citizens to accept the America’s place in it.
Ronald Reagan talked about the fight for freedom abroad, while John F Kennedy stressed foreign policy. 
Bill Clinton came into office with little experience of foreign affairs but left behind a legacy that centred on international relations. 
President Donald Trump, on the other hand, tells Americans that the whole world –except Russia – is out to take advantage of the US. 
He said it during the campaign and he said it again in his inaugural address yesterday. Indeed, this is a big turnaround in terms of outlook for any president in the recent past.
The world still recalls Kennedy’s willingness to “pay any price” for freedom. But the Vietnam War marred that. 
George W Bush talked about freedom repeatedly in his 2005 speech but his administration ended up tarnished by the Iraq War, which Trump wasted no time in making reference to when challenging recent findings by the intelligence community linking Russian interference in the US presidential election.
In short, Trump thinks it would be wise to do a complete U-turn. America, according to the new 
president, is being conned by the 
rest of the world. American workers are paying the price.
“We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies and destroying our jobs,” he declared. “Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength.” This was the first inaugural address – a call for protectionism.
But the America-first theme doesn’t have to be dark and gloomy. It remains to be seen if this isolationist rhetoric translates into a national agenda. 
For Thailand and the rest of Southeast Asia, Trump and his 
millionaire cabinet will learn quickly that real politic will force the American establishment to think twice before retreating from its 
traditional role around the world.
The rationale behind putting a number of business executives at work for this administration, including the former chief executive officer of ExxonMobil Rex Tillerson as the Secretary of State, suggests that he will run his government like a company. 
But he and these billionaire friends of his will soon learn that security, diplomacy and the economy are inseparable. 
Moscow and Beijing are licking their chops, waiting for Southeast Asian countries with open arms. One can argue that a Trump administration can’t be that stupid to walk away from any sphere of influence and let China and Russia assert themselves. But then again, Trump has surprised a lot of people with this victory and the things he has said and done. 
For decades, human rights have been embedded in US foreign policy. The Trump administration could very well put a big dent on such policy. Reports on human rights, religious freedom and so on will face stiff resistance given Trump’s stance on these issues and his isolationist tendencies.
Eventually, all stakeholders will come to an understanding that China-US relations are not a zero-sum game. Nevertheless, Asean countries will have to balance their ties. There will be some calibration in light of Trump’s foreign policy, whatever that may be. But there is no reason why Thailand and Asean members cannot have good and strong ties with both countries. 
While there have been diplomatic hiccups because of Thailand’s two coups within a decade, relations between the Thai military and the Pentagon continue to be sound and based on longstanding relations and a shared security outlook and threat perception. 
In other words, China’s effort to exert its sphere of influence, militarily speaking, has a long way to go before it can match the US security relationship with Asean countries. 
But if Trump is not careful, Washington could very well make China’s effort that much smoother and quicker. 

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