The conflict in the Middle East is expected to last “two or three weeks”, according to Donald Trump. Despite this, his interventionist foreign policy is being heavily criticized by both his supporters and the international community.
According to Donald Trump, the conflict in the Middle East is set to continue for “two or three weeks.” However, his intervention has been harshly criticized by his supporters and the international community, whom he accuses of not being sufficiently involved in the conflict. Amy Greene, an expert associated with the Montaigne Institute and a specialist in American politics, analyzes American foreign policy.
To what extent could Donald Trump intervene militarily without international authorization?
Amy Greene: Donald Trump is not the first U.S. president to intervene outside of international law. Even if their actions have been contested or questionable, previous American presidents sought legitimacy from the international community. Examples include the Iraq War in 2003 launched by George W. Bush and the international intervention in Libya initiated by Obama.
What changes is that Donald Trump completely disregards this. He ignores international law, questions its legitimacy, and sees it as a hindrance to his actions. He believes it is not his role to seek approval from an international framework to do what he believes is in the best interest of his country.
In terms of American law, he is not the first president to intervene without going through Congress.
Is Trump’s intervention punishable?
The United States is not a signatory to the International Criminal Court. So, what international mechanisms could hold the American administration accountable? Donald Trump asks, “Who will come after me? What can you do against me?”
Domestically, there are limited tools, but there are possibilities for recourse. If the Republican Party loses control of Congress in November, there could be investigations, even impeachment proceedings.
How can Trump’s interventionist stance be interpreted?
Some of his supporters may have thought he would avoid American military involvement abroad. Yet, there is a real ambition, almost expansionist, with the idea that American force exists to be used.
Justifications are provided for different interventions. In Venezuela, there was the pretext of drug trafficking and then the liberation of the people. Fundamentally, they did it because they could and because it served their interests. In Iran, he deems war necessary because the regime is an international threat. The idea was not necessarily to involve the country in a real war. He may have thought the intervention would be much more targeted and quick.
Does Trump really know what he’s doing? Can we speak of an organized foreign policy or improvised decisions?
Testimonies indicate that there is no followed and meticulously planned strategy. There may be some improvisation depending on the situation on the ground. Yet, there are still some objectives. There is a particular interest in resources, controlling flows, countering China, so there are principles guiding American foreign policy. However, the goals seem to change regularly. It may be difficult, from an external perspective, to see how the different manifestations of this foreign policy will enhance the long-term power of the United States. Ultimately, they could weaken the country’s interests. In any case, the United States seems to be moving away from the role of guaranteeing stability and posture.
Are Trump’s MAGA supporters starting to criticize his actions, particularly pointing fingers at Israel?
Indeed. Even if Israel lobbies, ultimately, it’s the U.S. president who decides to engage his military forces. Regarding supporters, there is a slight leakage of support in the opinion of the MAGA elites, but it is not massive. Some speak out against this interventionism, which they find inconsistent with Trump’s promise. Supporters who still back Trump may think, “if it doesn’t last too long, maybe Trump is right, it’s a small price to pay to secure the future of our children and grandchildren.”
