In an interview with the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations website, Kourosh Ahmadi stated: “This change began during Donald Trump’s first presidential term.” In fact, Trump became known as someone who is deal-oriented, with his focus mainly on economic issues.
According to Ahmadi, when the idea of “America First” was introduced, it meant that U.S. economic interests were the priority. This meant that American capital should not leave the country and go abroad. In addition, capital that had already left should return to the United States, creating jobs. The expert continued: “Under ‘America First,’ emphasis is placed on limiting immigration, because immigrants consume U.S. resources.”
Ahmadi described the symbol of these policies as distancing from a series of liberal, liberal-democratic, and human rights values.
The expert continued: “This is while U.S. presidents in the past, both Republican and Democrat, were ostensibly committed to these values. But Trump distanced himself from them and retreated from areas such as international economic liberalism, the free market, and free trade.”
He explained: In fact, Trump has tried to behave in a highly pragmatic manner and is pursuing pragmatism without focusing on ideas, thoughts, values, and beliefs.
Ahmadi added that Trump began this policy during his first presidential term, and in the second term, this approach has intensified.
Referring to the fact that the concept of the free world, helping to defend the free world, and assisting the security of the free world are ideas that have been raised for Americans since the Second World War, the international affairs expert said: This is while Trump has distanced himself from these values both in idea and in practice.
He explained in this regard: “For example, disregard for and sidelining NATO’s priority falls within this framework. Of course, it is not clear what results this approach has achieved in practice, or whether the U.S. economy has improved. Although the unemployment rate announced last month, 6.4 percent, was higher than the previous month. Therefore, it must be assessed whether the set of Trump’s policies in all areas and in the direction of strengthening the ‘America First’ approach is proceeding correctly or not.”
In response to the question of whether such a policy is the result of Trump’s own ideas and outlook or whether structural transformations in the world have also influenced it, Ahmadi emphasized that developments in the international system have certainly affected Trump’s approach. For example, globalization has been an essential factor in intensifying specific trends, such as the outflow of capital from the United States and the increase in immigration to the United States and Western Europe. He continued: “The issue of globalization and the relocation of traditional industries and workers from old traditional industrial countries to places such as China has caused politics in the United States to be affected, public opinion to become dissatisfied, and workers who previously worked in these industries, due to these problems, to develop right-wing tendencies and, in opposition to capital flight from their country, support far-right populist groups.”
According to the international affairs expert, these developments at the international level have, in this manner, intensified political dissatisfaction within the United States and helped a far-right current, led by Trump, to win elections. Pointing out that developments in the international structure have thus influenced developments in the United States, he explained that a similar transformation can be observed in Europe, and far-right parties in Europe have also been significantly strengthened since last year.
Finally, in response to the question of whether these policies would change if a Democrat came to power, the expert said: “When Joe Biden came to power after the end of Trump’s first presidential term, trends changed to some extent. If a Democratic individual comes to power again, there is a possibility that the U.S. security deal-making policy will be moderated.” He continued: “So-called voters who are dissatisfied with increased immigration and the migration of human capital to the United States and the outflow of capital from the country have their influence, and Democrats must also take the views of these groups into account. Of course, even if a Democrat comes to power, they cannot distance themselves 180 degrees from policies such as Trump’s policies and are compelled to pay attention to this transformation that has taken shape in the structure and public opinion.”
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