No Events
Donald Trump, re-elected as the 47th President of the United States (US), has made a swift start to his second term, signing more executive orders in the first 100 hours than any other American president and continuing to implement more and more policy changes. Domestically, issues such as border security, illegal immigration, reducing costs, and ending merit-based hiring have become central topics of discussion. Meanwhile, foreign policy has experienced significant changes, including the withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement and exits from multilateral partnerships like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
Trump has always seen the US as a global power that needs to regain its dominance on the world stage, and as his second term progresses, these intentions are becoming more concrete. Compared to his first term, Trump’s policies are now more assertive, determined, and well-calculated. These policies go beyond being a reaction to international “inequalities”; they are shaping up as a solid plan aimed at establishing a long-term balance of power in line with the “America First” mantra. This approach redefines US foreign policy, its stance on international agreements and partnerships, laying the foundation for more assertive and direct actions. For countries like Türkiye, which have experienced both the benefits and challenges of engaging with the Trump administration, the current question is how to adapt to this more refined and resolute version of Trump’s presidency.
This article will compare Trump’s foreign policy approach in his first term with the policies he has followed in his second term so far, and attempt to project its implications specifically for Türkiye. In this context, the TTIP Agreement and CAATSA sanctions will be considered as key areas to understand Türkiye’s position in its economic and political relations with the US. Türkiye’s policies towards these sanctions and the shelving of agreements will be examined through the statements and actions of state officials; the meaning of these decisions for Türkiye and the potential roadmaps for the future will be assessed.
Trump 1.0 vs 2.0
Trump, seen as one of the most marginal presidents in American history due to his methods, statements, and tweets, found the policies of previous administrations to be detrimental to the US and reversed them to enhance America’s power. In line with this, he withdrew from several international agreements, such as the Paris Climate Agreement and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and took a threatening stance against international organizations like NATO and the World Trade Organization (WTO). These steps showed that the rules and institutions maintaining order in the global system were being disregarded by an actor who had created them. This represented a shift in the global order established by the US after World War II. Trump’s unpredictable actions raised concerns and warned all nations that they needed to step out of their comfort zones and stand on their own. For example, the historically strong alliance between the US and Europe experienced unprecedented tension during the Trump era, and the transatlantic partnership was more strained than ever. In addition to Trump’s rhetoric and actions toward EU leaders, issues like the cancellation of the TTIP Agreement, increased NATO spending, and trade tariffs formed key points of division.
When comparing Trump’s first and second terms, both continuing policies and new strategies stand out. Starting his second term with an ambitious approach, Trump is presenting a clearer, faster, and more decisive profile than in his first term. While his first election was seen as a fluke, the second one is regarded entirely as Trump’s success. In the first term, other world leaders who believed that Trump was an anomaly and that things would return to normal once he left office are now faced with his steps showing that he is serious about being taken seriously, and they must accept the reality of Trump.
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