Donald Trump and the Threat of Global Conflict
In the opening days of his presidency, Donald Trump appears to be taking an unpredictable, albeit hawkish approach to foreign policy.
On Wednesday, his administration issued what seemed to be a threat to Iran. “As of today, we are officially putting Iran on notice,” his national security adviser Michael Flynn declared during a White House press conference after denouncing a recent Iranian missile test launch. On Thursday, Trump echoed that statement on Twitter, saying: “Iran has been formally PUT ON NOTICE for firing a ballistic missile.”
Reports have of confrontational phone conversations between Trump and the prime minister of Australia, a key American ally, as well as between Trump and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull disputed claims that Trump had hung up on him on Thursday, the call as “frank and forthright,” while the Mexican government shot down reports that Trump to send U.S. troops into Mexico.
