United States allies expressed concern following Donald Trump’s speech on Thursday. The Republican frontrunner held his first major speech on foreign policy with a focus on “America first.” The majority of foreign leaders did not publically express concern, but Germany’s foreign minister refused to remain quiet.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier stated, “I can only hope that the election in the USA does not lack the perception of reality.”
The foreign minister stated that the world’s security architecture has changed and that “America first” is not the answer to international security. Swedish former prime minister Carl Bildt also spoke out following Trump’s speech and indicated that the speech is seen as “abandoning both democratic allies and value.”
Trump’s speech, while highly criticized, did not shed light on the candidate’s potential new policy proposals. The proposals that were mentioned in the speech were in line with many Republican concerns of rejecting the nuclear arms deal signed with Iran last year and investing in missile defense for Europe.
Trump took a jab at the Obama administration for its support of Israel, too.
Foreign leaders noted that Trump did not highlight the aggression of Russia in the Ukraine and has plenty to say for the United States’ support of an Egyptian democracy. Trump criticized the Obama administration for not supporting Hosni Mubarak during the 2011 uprising.
