Not Spectacular, But Better Than His Predecessors

(White House photo via WSJ)

President Trump's foreign policy is of a piece with the man; it's unpredictable. While generally a bad thing--both friend and foe can make catastrophic misjudgments--unpredictability can be effective. WSJ's Gerard Baker:

American strategy these days may best be characterized as something of a random walk.

Traveling in Asia and Europe last month, I spoke to U.S. allies and strategic competitors alike about Trumpian foreign policy. They differed on many topics, but the one thing they all agreed on was that we really don’t know what the president is going to do next.

Constructive ambiguity or strategic confusion? Who knows?

Whenever I enter the rabbit hole of a "conversation" (more like a harangue) about the President, I make an old-school argument: watch what he does, not what he says.

Last week, Mr. Trump took further historic steps, literally, toward an utterly improbable detente with North Korea. Last month, he demurred when presented with a limited and justifiable retaliatory strike against Iran for shooting down a U.S. reconnaissance drone over the Gulf because, he said, he was concerned about disproportionate loss of life. While he continues to pursue a trade war with China, he seems, if anything, to be happier when—as at last week’s G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan—he is de-escalating tensions with Xi Jinping.

Blustering/threatening, then retreating at the 11th hour, is the Trumpian style. It seems to be working, not spectacularly but better than his predecessors.