Well, good old wanna-be President Trump announced that the U.S. will recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and will eventually move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. This is being done without the support of his NATO allies, including Canada and the European Union. In addition, the move would be in contravention of a United Nations’ resolution on the matter. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu naturally praised Trump for the announcement, the Arab League and Arab countries including NATO-ally Turkey, condemned the proposed recognition. Violent demonstrations against the American announcement broke out all over the Middle East and even in Canada. So much for America’s neutral honest broker approach to peace talks between Israelis and the Palestinians!
Not only that, the move has benefited Russian President Vladimir Putin who has made in-roads in establishing greater Russian presence in the Middle East. Timing is everything. As part of a whirlwind Middle Eastern tour, Putin recently visited Syria, Egypt and Turkey. While President Trump sparked outrage across the region, Putin is playing the role of sober and dependable partner, cozying up to major Arab players in the region. Although Putin can be blamed for supporting Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, he has declared victory over the Islamic State and announced an imminent drawdown of Russian forces in Syria. Russia is now seen as becoming more influential in Middle Eastern affairs than compared to a decade ago. With Trump’s recent declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, such a move will only accelerate the decline of U.S. influence and put an end to any American involvement in peace talks between Israel and the Arab countries.
Once again, as with Trump’s idiotic stance on free trade and multi-lateral trade agreements, the current administration’s erratic and chaotic foreign policy changes will only hurt the perception of U.S. leadership abroad. The ‘Ugly American’ has indeed returned. Even the U.S. State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, is in terrible disarray. Many key foreign posts have yet to be filled. Even positions taken by current Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, have often been contradicted by tweets or statements by President Trump. What a mess! All the rest of the world can do is watch and wonder aloud.
FROLITICKS 
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