Poised for Success?

After a year and a half in office, Donald Trump's foreign policy appears poised for success, though some major challenges in approach and execution remain. While still a work in progress, the president's approach already reflects some commendable and much needed changes, genuinely putting America first and making foes and friends alike take American positions more seriously. America's international conduct has become noticeably more muscular, relying on a significant increase in the military budget and a demonstrable willingness to use force. This is particularly true in Syria; Trump's red lines are more credible than Obama's, and when Trump threatens to use military force, few are ready to gamble that the American president is bluffing. Paradoxically, while many governments increasingly appear to view the US as a formidable superpower that they cannot easily cross or ignore, many of the same governments see the administration as erratic, unable to evaluate situations objectively, and prone to personalizing relations with foreign leaders and countries--even in dealing with other major powers.