The first debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris in the race for the White House was marked by mutual attacks and clashes over US domestic affairs, as was to be expected. Even so, on more than one occasion the two candidates directly or indirectly addressed how they should coordinate US diplomacy if they assume the presidency.
The US relationship with China; the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan; the migration crisis in the Americas; and the conflicts in the Gaza Strip and Ukraine were some of these topics.
Donald Trump, for example, accused the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris administration of showing weakness on the international stage. And he indicated an aggressive approach to pressure diplomatic adversaries.
The vice president, in turn, demonstrated a vision in which the US would act as a guarantor of the security of its allies and would adopt a negotiating position with the rest of the international community.
Despite this, “although the candidates have outlined their general perspectives on diplomacy, they have not provided a clear and detailed roadmap on how they intend to implement their policies in practice,” says Bruna Santos, a foreign policy expert and director of the Brazil Institute at the American think tank Wilson Center.
World at war
The United States plays a central role in the two conflicts that have most focused the international community’s attention in recent years: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Trump said the war in Eastern Europe only started because Russian President Vladimir Putin believed Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were “incompetent” and would not stop the operation. Kamala Harris criticized Trump for being, in her words, “weak and erratic on national security and foreign policy.”
“Trump’s responses have avoided clear commitments, especially on Ukraine, raising doubts about his position on key global issues and his willingness to maintain alliances,” Santos highlights.
Regarding the Gaza Strip, Kamala Harris stressed that Israel has the right to defend itself, but also highlighted the deaths of civilians, especially women and children, during Benjamin Netanyahu’s government occupation of the Palestinian enclave. This is the official position of the Biden administration, which has been characterized by support for Israel’s defense structure.
Trump, in turn, repeated that the war would not even have started if he were president, without presenting any proposals to end the conflict.
Washington-Beijing Connection
The relationship with China was one of the most discussed foreign policy topics during the confrontation. One of Donald Trump’s promises is to introduce a generalized import tax on any product with the aim of strengthening American industries — which would especially impact Chinese factories, the second largest trading partner of the United States, behind only Mexico.
Kamala Harris responded by accusing Donald Trump of being responsible for starting trade wars during his term (2016-2020) and said that this practice penalized the American economy.
“Harris stressed that Trump’s approach to China, including the sale of American chips, has helped China improve and modernize its military, contrary to US national security interests. She promised to maintain a firm stance, supporting allies and maintaining the United States’ role in the world order, suggesting a more strategic and negotiating foreign policy and less confrontational towards China,” Santos concluded.
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This content was originally published in Debate highlights divergent approaches to US diplomacy on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
