Monday, April 18, 2016

Trump's statements surprised, but little concern abroad

The foreign policy statements favorite for the Republican nomination for the White House, Donald Trump, have left stunned many around the world, but care little.

Trump, who called NATO "obsolete" and said Japan and South Korea should have nuclear weapons, has questioned the cardinal principles that US diplomacy has striven to apply for decades.

Both President Barack Obama and Secretary of State, John Kerry, have strongly condemned his statements. "I do not know much about foreign policy," Obama estimated, according to which foreign leaders will often ask about the "outrageous comments" the Republican candidate.

Kerry, who visited on April 11 Monument Hiroshima, called "aberration" Trump's proposal that suggested that Japan and South Korea should develop nuclear weapons to confront the threat of North Korea.

Kazuhiro Maeshima, political scientist at Sophia University in Tokyo, said Trump's proposal does not make sense, because the defense agreement between the US and Japan mainly serves the interests of Washington.

While Trump is imposed as favorite to win the Republican primary, he has little chance of defeating Hillary Clinton, Democrats likely candidate. But still, many wonder whether their statements can harm the United States.

Republican presidential candidate caused consternation by declaring that his "number one priority" in case of reaching the White House will repeal the controversial nuclear deal with Iran.

"When I am president, will end the period in which we treated Israel as a second class citizen," Trump said outside pressure groups most influential pro-Israel country. To Nimrod Goren, president of Mitvim (Israeli Institute for regional diplomacy), many illusions about the support of billionaire Israel must not be done. "We always do a lot of questions when it comes to Trump, is not a traditional Republican politician," he said.

- New sanctions -

According to him, it is unlikely that Trump or his Republican rival Ted Cruz, who also questioned the agreement with Iran, get the support of pro-Israel lobbyist with such statements.

In Iran, the extravagant claims of Trump not impressed. "First, I do not think Trump wins the election and, even if he wins, I do not see very different from Clinton. In both cases, things will be a little more difficult with respect to Iranian policy," estimated Nasser Hadian professor in International Relations at the University of Tehran. "Both they seek excuses to impose new sanctions by missiles, human rights and terrorism. The only difference is that Trump has less international legitimacy that Clinton" added this, moderate pro-government analyst.

Some opponents of Trump have wondered even if it is ready to be president, after some controversial comments.

The Republican candidate has said on several occasions that if he became president, approve simulating breathlessness, a method of interrogation considered torture. Ted Cruz is not against this practice. "The United States opposes torture methods, always, in any form, by anyone, that whether or not government agents," said John Kerry recently, without naming Republicans.

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