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What an "America First" Policy Means for Israel

(Makor Rishon-Israel Hayom) Dr. Raphael BenLevi - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's approach to the world is embodied by the phrase "America First." Due to the historical baggage of this phrase, many have interpreted it as identifying him with the isolationist trend in U.S. foreign policy that seeks to turn its back on allies around the world. However, a leading institute in developing a platform for the second Trump administration called the "America First Policy Institute" emphasizes that their approach is not a call for the U.S. to withdraw from its role as the leader of the free world. Rather, "America First" means building a powerful military while being highly selective regarding its use, in order to keep U.S. troops out of unnecessary and unending wars. It is also a call to work with allies hand-in-hand, while requiring them to carry their full weight of their own security needs. A prominent voice on grand strategy in Trump's circle, Elbridge Colby, emphasized this week that the U.S. is interested in strong allies who stand on their own two feet and do not expect the U.S. to risk its soldiers to protect them. Applying this thinking to the Middle East, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance has made it clear that the America First approach sees a strong Israel acting alongside strong Gulf states as a counterweight to Iran. The writer is a fellow at the Misgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy.
2024-11-14 00:00:00
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