Former US president Barack Obama and the current US president have been known to possess some differences. However, their main differences portrayed in their external politics. This politics is also, what we refer to as international politics. International politics is the politics that is interested in the foreign affairs of a country and its relations with other countries.
Obama’s administration wanted to be responsible in bringing back peace to Iraq. This was reinforced by resolving border disagreements. During his campaigns, Obama talked about sending about 300 advisors of the military to help Iraq training. The opinion of Obama on the same keeps changing over the years with Obama. At the end of it all, Obama talks about the US not going to get involved in the issues of Iraq. He believes that the problems of Iraq are solvable by the Muslim communities and even withdraws troops from Iraq.
Conversely, Trump during his campaigns tries to say that he was never in support of the war in Iraq. However, many people thought otherwise. On becoming president, Donald Trump instigates the United States’ involvement in the Iraq war. Trump sanction Iraq. The Trump administration in this case hugely tries to kills Iraq’s access to essential services such as food and electricity from its neighbors like Iran. The sting starts a war of words with Iranian Prime Minister, Rohwani. Rohwani feels Iraq sanctions will directly affect most of its businesses hugely dependent on Iraq market.
Obama talks about the United States building a 21st-century military. He speaks of the US deploying its army to the fighting countries to protect America’s interests in those countries. Obama believes that this could be the only way of keeping peace in countries like Afghanistan. For instance, Obama talks of the plan to retain about 8,000 troops in Afghanistan until the end of his term. Obama goes ahead to support America’s involvement in Afghanistan by saying the Taliban taken over Afghanistan. The US in the process uses its military to train the Afghan army and supports their counterterrorism campaigns.
On the other side, Trump not only uses the United States military but also proposes to the United Kingdom to provide reinforcement. Trump in the process increases involvement in the war in Afghanistan against the Taliban. The UK receives proposal warmly and increases troops in the Middle East nation. Such is entirely different with Obama who instead increased United States’ military forces in Afghanistan.
Obama in his term as President of the US allows for more people to move into the US. Mexicans, Syrians, Iran nationals, name them. In a statement in 2016, Obama enables business people with stakes in startup US companies to extend residence for another five years.
Obama addresses Iranian student’s visas. Obama repeals single-entry policy opening doors for more Iranian students to students to study in the US. This was aimed at helping students that wat to progress in their education to study in the US as they avoid repressions in their country.
The Obama administration improves its relations with China through the 10-year visa policy. The Visa allows for business people and tourists from both countries to visit both countries at any time. The United States feels China as their fastest growing exports markets and feels such action will improve China Investments and promote economic growth in the United States.
On the other side, Donald Trump’s administration has a shoestring immigration policy. The visa policy in trump’s administration is stringent which implies that one could quickly get deported. Trump is also very critical of the Mexicans and in the first year of power establishes the America-Mexica border. Trump also reinforces security on the Mexican border wall. What follows is the family separation from children born to Mexican parents separate if they fail to present the right immigration documents.
People from other countries the Trump administrations sees as a threat to national security have been deported in the process. The Green Card policy to the US is also not as easy it used to be. The Obama administration allows people from everywhere to move to the US for work.
The demonstrations above show the differences in the external politics of both Barack Obama and Donald Trump. Trump increases US national defense budget by 10 percent to $639 billion in the fiscal year 2018 to fight terrorism, troop readiness, and military device advancements.