Trump did win the presidency by running on the most anti-internationalist platform seen in decades. Trump has had to roll back some of the more radical aspects of his “America first” agenda since becoming president and tearing up the North American Free Trade Agreement, declaring NATO obsolete, launching a trade war with China. Also President Donald J. Trump’s withdrawal of US troops from Syria is a welcome sign that the old internationalist consensus. Since 2008, the world has witnessed the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and meddling in western elections, China’s assertive construction of military facilities in disputed territory, North Korea’s continued nuclear and missile tests, the fraying of the European Union, and Iran’s brazen attacks on Saudi Arabia.
The current United States foreign policy of internationalism can be summed up in two words: international leadership. As the country with the most worldwide influence, the United States feels it must be a leader in promoting peace, diplomacy, democracy, and economic cooperation. Starting in 1939 when the United States breached its isolationist tendencies to help defeat the Axis’ power in World War II, the US has since become more active in the international scene. The United States is now a member of the United Nations and works cooperatively with other nations to solve critical world issues.
