There can be no doubt the world changed on 20th of January 2025. As a matter of fact, a new US President was inaugurated — a second time for President Trump — whose return to power has spooked global friends and enemies alike since his election last November. The flurry of Executive Orders issued from day one says much about the determination of this US Administration to not only dismantle the work and legacy of the Biden Administration but potentially also many elements of the postwar multilateral order.
Indeed, amongst the first measures taken by President Trump upon his return to the White House was the withdrawal of the US from both the Paris Climate Agreement, and the World Health Organisation (WHO). However, beyond the acts the bluster, the rhetoric on tariffs and bold promises to end both wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, the vast majority of actions and orders have concerned domestic matters, focused upon issues such as immigration and equality. This begs the question: is the Trump Administration more concerned with bombastic rhetoric than bombastic action when it comes to global and geostrategic affairs?
Dr Kathleen McInnis is definitely someone who can speak to this and many other related issues. Director and senior fellow of the Smart Women, Smart Power Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and a former official at the US Department of Defence (DOD), she joins Ilana Bet-El in a wide-ranging conversation. From women and "dudes" in defence and foreign affairs to modern strategic challenges, and the future of NATO and EU-US relations, this is a strong and surprising discussion concerning rhetoric, reality and continuity in America's foreign policy under President Trump 2.0.
This episode was recorded on 23 January 2025.
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