From meeting Putin to Middle East doubts: What were Trump’s foreign policy moves on day one?

Donald Trump announced his intention to implement 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico while pulling out of a key international climate agreement during an unscripted, extensive news conference from the Oval Office, where he addressed issues ranging from trade conflicts to TikTok and expressed that he was “not confident” the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel would last.

The casual comments occurred while Trump enacted a series of executive orders on both domestic and global issues, including the choice to pull the United States out of the World Health Organization, a move that experts have cautioned might hinder attempts to address future pandemics.

The order stated that the US was leaving the organization because of “the organization’s poor management of the Covid-19 pandemic that originated in Wuhan, China, along with other global health emergencies, its lack of essential reforms, and its failure to show independence from undue political pressure from WHO member states.” The US is the primary financial supporter of the organization based in Geneva. On Monday evening, Trump signed an executive order instituting a 90-day halt on the distribution of US foreign development aid, which leaves millions in assistance uncertain, reliant on a choice by Marco Rubio, who the Senate confirmed as secretary of state, becoming the first cabinet member of Trump’s new administration.

Trump likewise overturned Biden administration sanctions on aggressive Israeli settlers as a concession to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a pivotal ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The actions unfolded rapidly in the initial hours of Trump’s presidency and signaled how US foreign policy would shift dramatically and uniquely under the new president’s “America first” philosophy that prioritizes US interests above everything else.

Regarding trade, the US president deferred a campaign promise to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico from the very first day of his new administration. Nevertheless, he stated he would implement the new tariffs on the North American neighbors on 1 February, which would signify a remarkable reversal in US trade policy that would significantly increase costs for American consumers.

Trump stated, “Our focus is on 25% regarding Mexico and Canada due to their acceptance of large numbers of people… and fentanyl.” “I believe we will accomplish it on February 1.”

In 2023, Mexico became the US’s biggest trading partner, with a total bilateral goods trade reaching $807 billion, exceeding US trade with China, as reported by the US State Department. Simultaneously, Trump grabbed headlines with light-hearted comments on issues ranging from a prohibition on TikTok to his conversations with Russian leader Vladimir Putin about the ongoing war in Ukraine that has lasted three years.

When questioned about the conflict in Ukraine, Trump indicated he would meet Putin “very soon” and stated that his Russian counterpart was “ruining Russia” by not negotiating a ceasefire with Ukraine. Regarding the possibility of brokering a ceasefire, he remarked: “I need to talk to President Putin, and we’ll have to see.” He can’t be excited. He isn’t doing very well. I mean, he’s putting in the effort.

He believed he could persuade Saudi Arabia to establish normal relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords, a hallmark initiative of his former administration.  However, when inquired if he could uphold the truce between Israel and Hamas, he expressed that he was “not confident.” “That isn’t our conflict, it’s theirs.” “I think they’re very weakened on the other side,” he said, referring to Gaza and the militant group Hamas. “I looked at a picture of Gaza. Gaza is like a massive demolition site. That place has really got to be rebuilt in a different way.”

Asked whether he was ready to help Gaza rebuild, he said “maybe,” and then launched into an offhand discussion that harkened back to his days as a real estate developer.

“You know Gaza is interesting it’s a phenomenal location,” he said. “On the sea, best weather… some beautiful things could be done with it.”