US Research Day 2018: U.S. Foreign and Security Policies Under Trump: A Doctrine in the Making?

Donald Trump’s presidency has instigated a widespread debate over the essence of his foreign and security policy. Some observers view the President’s approach as devoid of coherence, some speak of a grand-strategic shift, and yet others observe a semblance of continuity with past presidential administrations. In the aftermath of the midterm elections with almost two years of Trump’s first presidential term elapsed, it is high time to enquire to what extent the President and his administration have managed to forge a “Trump doctrine” – a more or less coherent approach to the world. What are its key components in the military and economic spheres? What kinds of principles inform the doctrine? How does this Trumpian approach to the world reflect relevant trends on the international and domestic political arenas? What are the future prospects of Trump’s foreign and security policy against the backdrop of the midterms, and the approaching countdown to the presidential races?

The US Research Day 2018 is organised by the Center on US Politics and Power (CUSPP) at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA).