Trump’s First 100 Days on the Global Stage

 Analysts in Washington and overseas say a number of factors are at work, including the reality of dealing with global events, appeals from foreign leaders and the rise of experienced foreign policy mavens to Cabinet positions.

The 45th president entered office raging against a post-WWII order built by the United States, pledging instead that he would put “America First.

The US, President Donald Trump said during his campaign, could no longer afford to be the world’s policeman. On the stump he also dismissed core alliances in Europe and Asia, raged at trade pacts, derided international organizations such as the UN and trash-talked allies (Mexico) and competitors (China) alike.

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But since his inauguration, Trump has steadily reversed course on those fronts and a host of others.

The populist president has now embraced NATO, reaffirmed relationships with allies, reinforced international norms against chemical weapons use by bombing Syria and has sent more US troops to help rein in global conflicts.

Almost 100 days after Trump entered the White House dismissing the international system, Trump seems to be assuming a US president’s traditional foreign policy role: being that system’s biggest defender.

“It’s a total 180,” said James Jeffrey, a former US ambassador to Iraq and Turkey. “And to a certain degree, it’s right.”