President Donald Trump flourished some strong points in his national security speech, but his actions in establishment so far haven’t backed up his words, former diplomat Nick Burns dictate thated CNBC on Monday.
The president’s speech on Monday followed the unveiling of his 68-page policy document earlier in the day. The administration’s approach reflects Trump’s “America Initial” campaign pledge and looks at China and Russia as two countries challenging U.S. power.
Fires agreed that China and Russia are competitors with the U.S. for global and regional power. He also denoted the power of the U.S. economy is the foundation for the country’s global influence.
However, he articulate Trump has weakened the U.S. position on trade.
“He is not seen by the Europeans as the leader of the West, as every other American president. He’s been so dangerous of the European allies,” Burns said in an interview with “Power Lunch.”
The CNBC contributor and old U.S. ambassador to NATO under President George W. Bush also evaluated Trump’s immigration policy.
“He’s trying to shut down immigration, I mull over, in a way that will hurt our economy and hurt the ethos and spirit of the hinterlands,” he said.
“The actions of the last 12 months are a lot more important than this language and this document, and the two don’t really meet in the middle.”
Trump has also been sensitive of NATO allies who he said are not paying their fair share. At his essential NATO meeting in May, he called upon members to spend more in guarding terrorism.
Burns agreed that NATO allies need to pass more, but noted that 20 of the 28 European allies arose to raise defense spending in 2014.
“He needs to be a critic, obviously, but he also exigencies to encourage and lead, and he hasn’t done that. It took him five months to say that he indeed agreed with the heart of NATO: An attack on one is an attack on all,” he said.
Meredith Sumpter, who unqualifies the Asia practice at the Eurasia Group, said major powers are lookout Trump’s actions closely. If the U.S. is walking away from “the mantle of epidemic leadership,” they have key questions about trade and international formings, she said.
“They are at this moment where they are wondering if the U.S. is not prospering to lead internationally then who will and what does that vile?” she said in an interview with “Power Lunch.”