RIGA - After Republican Donald Trump takes office as US President, a very aggressive and loud protectionist policy will begin, but how this policy will end up is another matter, former Latvian ambassador to the US Andris Teikmanis told LETA in an interview.
He stressed that protectionism is a policy that Trump understands and trade tariffs are the mechanisms he has high hopes for. However, the overall attitude of the Republican Party must also be assessed and it is unlikely that all Republicans support isolationist policies.
"I think the US establishment understands that America has too much weight in the world to just sit in its cave. America cannot afford that. "In the 'hot spots' that matter to America itself - the Middle East, Israel, Iran, Russia, North Korea, China - it will not be able to do nothing. In other regions, America may not be so active," Teikmanis said.
He also said that Trump's current administration has been chosen on different principles than those of his first presidency. The most important thing is loyalty and the past views of these people on issues important to Trump, less important was the necessary competence for the job. The new administration will be made up of some very unusual personalities.
"At the same time, I wouldn't bet my last money that they won't be replaced after a while. The process could be quite dynamic. There is already a conflict between Stephen Bannon (who will be Chief Strategist - ed.) and Elon Musk (who will head the government's Efficiency Department - ed.), which will not just disappear," Teikmanis said.
He also suggested that Trump's statements on his desire to buy Greenland could indicate that the Greenland issue could become an aspect of how Trump will shape his trade tariff policy with the European Union (EU).
"America cannot impose some economic sanctions on Denmark alone, which is an EU member state. I really don't think Trump will declare Greenland part of the US. He will try to negotiate because he considers himself the best negotiator in the world. Trump's method is to start negotiations with a very aggressive, strong, threatening starting point," Teikmanis said.
He also reminded that Trump did something similar during his first presidency, but his rhetoric did not have any fundamental success. For example, Trump promised to resolve the North Korea issue and was the first US President to visit that country. However, this did not have any far-reaching results.
"So there will certainly be a policy of aggressive threats from Trump, but the outcome will probably be very different," Teikmanis said.
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