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Donald Trump presidency will spark confrontation with China over tariffs, possibly abandon Ukraine and give green light to Israel to further escalate in the Middle East
The new Donald Trump presidency could usher in a dangerous period of hard-line clashes with China, according to a new intelligence report.
Experts fear Trump will also have a more laissez-faire attitude towards Israel ’s war on Gaza and Lebanon and relax pressure on Russia. A new intelligence analysis by former FBI global security expert Ali Soufan, from the Soufan Centre, warns of increased tensions with Beijing.
The advisory group says the tension will emanate from Trump’s wish to slap tariffs on China, which will likely have a devastating effect on the US economy. Soufan’s analysts write in their latest report: “Trump’s hardened stance with China will likely continue into his new administration and if not properly managed could cause serious friction with Beijing.”
It argues that Trump’s “60% China tariffs” as a “primary strategy will “risk a trade war” between America and China. The reports explains: “According to the Peterson Institute for International Economics this policy along with a 20% tariff on all other nations would cost a typical middle class household more than $2,600 a-year.
The report argues the move will infuriate China, sparking a trade war at a time when tensions over Beijing Taiwan ambitions are running high. And Soufan’s analysts believe Trump’s administration, which moved the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, will do little to ameliorate the Middle East crisis.
On the Middle East the report adds that Trump “has expressed unwavering support for the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly telling him in a phone call ‘do what you’ve got to do’ – a sentiment experts interpret as encouraging escalating in Gaza and Lebanon despite humanitarian concerns.”
And on the subject of Russia Trump appears not to support a Ukraine win as well as refusing openly to support Ukraine beating Russia. It says on Ukraine: “Trump has promised to bring a swift end to the Russo – Ukraine war and has stated that Ukraine should have ‘given up a little bit to Moscow,’ weeks after refusing to announce that he was committed to a Ukraine victory in his debate with then presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
Many believe that the Trump administration would embolden or turn a blind eye to the annexationist faction within Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition, which would extend to further actions in the West Bank.