WHAT Donald Trump does domestically when he enters the White House in just under two weeks is frankly the American people’s problem — after all, they voted him into power for the second time. The only exception may be his immigration policy, which would concern many foreigners, including Pakistanis. But the shape US foreign policy takes during the second Trump administration is a matter of concern for the entire globe, as American military and economic decisions have an impact in climes far beyond US borders. Though his support base includes both isolationist MAGA hardliners, who want little to do with the outside world, as well as neocons who favour unbridled American imperialism, it appears that the latter grouping may have the upper hand in forming foreign policy. During a presser on Tuesday, Mr Trump gave broad outlines of his external aims. If he is serious about even half of these promises, the world should be very concerned. For example, he refused to rule out using force to occupy the Panama Canal as well as Greenland. Moreover, he threatened to use “economic force” against Canada, and described the border with his North American neighbour as an “artificially drawn line”. But his most dangerous rhetoric was reserved for Gaza. Reiterating previous threats, Mr Trump said that unless Israeli captives held by Hamas were returned by the time of his inauguration, “all hell will break out in the Middle East”.

Mr Trump must realise that Gaza is already a living hell, thanks to Israeli barbarism and American weapons provided by the Biden administration. The Palestinian people have been constantly burying loved ones; they have been starved to death, and several babies have frozen to death in the Levantine winter. It is difficult to imagine how much more hellish the incoming American leader intends to make conditions for the people of Gaza. What is needed in the Strip is a long-term ceasefire and immediate provision of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians. But it is naïve to expect Mr Trump to pressure Israel into silencing its guns in Gaza, surrounded as he is by fanatical Zionists for whom the extermination of the Palestinian people is almost an article of faith. His views on Iran are equally hawkish. Therefore, his promises to bring more ‘hell’ to the Middle East may be fulfilled quite soon.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2025