A Planet of War

To say that Donald Trump has been on a lucky streak as of late is an understatement. As a result, it is perhaps in the bag for him in terms of the election in November. But what stands out the most in all his recent performances and speeches are perhaps his comments on foreign policy and international affairs, and we will analyze one in particular. Namely, his comment about how we are in “a planet of war” during his speech at the recent Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. 

In my opinion, of all the comments which Donald Trump has made as of late in terms of foreign policy and international affairs, this particular comment is the most analytical and philosophical of all. Of course, his comments about his interactions with the Taliban leader and Kim Jong Un are also intriguing and often humorous. But what is most interesting is the prism or the lens through which Donald Trump views foreign policy and international affairs, and Trump pretty much uncovered the basic prism or lens through which he views international affairs in a very subtle and perhaps easily missed manner during his acceptance speech for the Republican nomination a few days ago. As analysts, we have not really nailed down Donald Trump’s basic prism or lens for international affairs. But his last two speeches provide us the window or the opening to do so.

In a sense, the Trumpian declaration that we are in “a planet of war” deals with the very basic structure of the international system. The system or the structure is a Cold War system or structure after all, and as a result, the system is anarchic by nature. Because the system or the structure is anarchic, we get the Trumpian comment or the Trumpian perspective. In fact, the Trumpian comment or Trumpian perspective is very much in line with realist theory of international relations or political realism. Which means that behind the scenes, the Trump campaign and the Trump team have been doing their homework in terms of foreign policy and international relations. 

Trump also differs from the liberal elite in terms of foreign policy in the sense that Trump is very much free-wheeling and spontaneous when it comes to dealing with the whole foreign policy process, whereas the liberal elite remains quite rigid and closed off from any input from the world whatsoever. Arguably, Trump’s free-wheeling and spontaneous approach to the whole foreign policy process could be a plus rather than a negative going forward. After all, the rigidity and the exclusion which is imposed on the foreign policy process by the liberal elite has led to the eruption of conflicts on all fronts under the Biden Administration. An eruption, one must note, which Biden is thoroughly ill-equipped and incapable of handling and managing.

Aside from understanding structure, which is most important in terms of foreign policy, Trump also appears to understand the very basic essence and nature of international relations. Within structure, there is of course the goals and the strategic moves which are pursued in the way of goals. His comment about Afghanistan in Michigan today is case in point. Trump now appears to understand the “Great Game” element of international relations. The “Great Game” is perhaps the nucleus of international relations, and Trump has now nailed it down as evinced by his comments on Afghanistan and Iran today. Under Biden, the overall advantage has gone to Russia and China from a “Great Game” standpoint. And Trump’s comments about Afghanistan and Iran in Michigan today demonstrate that he finally understands that the United States is now against the ropes in this “Great Game” competition with Russia and China. Perhaps privately, Trump understands full well why the United States is against the ropes in this “Great Game” competition with Russia and China. And it is the why which matters the most. It is the “why” which is perhaps the driver behind Donald Trump’s dramatic and miraculous turnaround and overall lucky streak in recent days and weeks, which carries with it a kind of energy and momentum that will endure even past November when he wins the election.