The Trump-Biden-Trump Foreign Policy

Click the following link to view FOREIGN AFFAIRS’s article, titled “The Trump-Biden-Trump Foreign Policy – American Strategy’s Strange Continuity” by RICHARD FONTAINE:

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/trump-biden-trump-foreign-policy

Prompt: Please give a comprehensive summary of FOREIGN AFFAIRS's article, titled "The Trump-Biden-Trump Foreign Policy - American Strategy's Strange Continuity" by RICHARD FONTAINE.

#ChatGPT gives the following summary:

In his article “The Trump-Biden-Trump Foreign Policy: American Strategy’s Strange Continuity,” published on January 20, 2025, in Foreign Affairs, Richard Fontaine examines the unexpected consistencies in U.S. foreign policy across the Trump and Biden administrations, despite their contrasting rhetoric and stated objectives.

Key Points:

  1. Shared Strategic Objectives: Both administrations prioritized countering China’s rising influence, albeit through different methods. Trump’s approach was characterized by unilateral actions and trade confrontations, while Biden emphasized strengthening alliances and multilateral engagement to address the China challenge.

  2. Middle East Policy: A notable continuity is observed in the U.S. stance toward the Middle East. Both administrations maintained strong support for Israel and pursued policies aimed at containing Iran’s influence in the region. While Trump’s strategy involved withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal and applying maximum pressure through sanctions, Biden, despite initial intentions to re-engage, continued to uphold significant sanctions and maintained a firm posture against Iran’s regional activities.

  3. Trade and Economic Policies: Economic nationalism emerged as a common theme. Trump’s “America First” agenda led to the imposition of tariffs and a focus on bilateral trade deals. Biden, though advocating for global cooperation, retained several of these trade measures, reflecting a bipartisan consensus on protecting American economic interests against perceived unfair practices, particularly by China.

  4. Military Engagements and Defense Strategy: Both administrations exhibited caution regarding extensive military interventions. Trump advocated for ending “endless wars” and initiated troop withdrawals from conflict zones like Afghanistan. Biden followed through with the complete withdrawal from Afghanistan, signaling a continued preference for limiting direct military involvement and focusing on emerging threats, such as cyber warfare and great power competition.

  5. Approach to Alliances: While differing in tone, both administrations pressured allies to assume greater responsibility for their own defense. Trump was overt in demanding increased defense spending from NATO allies, whereas Biden employed a more diplomatic approach, still encouraging allies to enhance their military capabilities and contribute more significantly to collective security efforts.

 

Fontaine concludes that despite apparent ideological differences, a thread of strategic continuity runs through the foreign policies of both administrations. This persistence underscores enduring national interests that shape U.S. engagement on the global stage, regardless of the party in power.

Prompt: Translate to Traditional Chinese.

〈川普─拜登─川普的外交政策:美國戰略的奇特連續性〉
作者:理查德·豐丹(RICHARD FONTAINE)
2025年1月20日,刊於《外交事務》(Foreign Affairs

理查德·豐丹在文章中探討了川普與拜登兩屆政府之間,美國外交政策的意外一致性,儘管兩者在言辭和目標上截然不同。

重點內容:

  1. 共同的戰略目標:
    川普與拜登政府都將應對中國的崛起列為首要任務,但採取的方法不同。

    • 川普的做法以單邊行動和貿易對抗為主。
    • 拜登則強調通過加強盟友合作和多邊參與來應對中國的挑戰。
  2. 中東政策:
    美國在中東的立場呈現明顯的連續性。

    • 兩屆政府都維持對以色列的強烈支持,並致力於遏制伊朗在該地區的影響力。
    • 川普退出伊朗核協議並通過制裁施加極限壓力;拜登雖然起初意圖重啟協議,但仍然維持嚴厲制裁,並在伊朗的區域活動上保持強硬立場。
  3. 貿易與經濟政策:
    經濟民族主義成為共同主題。

    • 川普的「美國優先」議程導致關稅上升及重點推動雙邊貿易協議。
    • 拜登雖提倡全球合作,但保留了部分貿易措施,顯示出對保護美國經濟利益,特別是針對中國「不公平行為」的跨黨共識。
  4. 軍事參與與國防策略:
    兩屆政府在大規模軍事干預上表現出謹慎態度。

    • 川普提倡結束「無止境的戰爭」,並開始從阿富汗等衝突地區撤軍。
    • 拜登則完全結束了阿富汗的撤軍,表明了專注於網絡戰爭及大國競爭等新興威脅的延續傾向。
  5. 對待盟友的態度:
    雖然語氣不同,兩屆政府都敦促盟友承擔更多的防務責任。

    • 川普直言要求北約盟國增加國防開支。
    • 拜登則採用更具外交手段的方式,仍然鼓勵盟國加強軍事能力並更積極地貢獻集體安全。

 

理查德·豐丹總結道,儘管兩屆政府在意識形態上存在分歧,但其外交政策中存在連續性的線索。這種連續性反映了持久的國家利益,無論執政黨派如何,都深刻地影響著美國在全球舞台上的行動。

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