The age of Trump begins
Mmegi Editor | Thursday December 22, 2016 13:49
An outspoken political maverick, Trump ran his campaign on non-conformism, the provocation and belittling of his rivals and grandiose ambitions reminiscent of the megalomaniacs who littered the global political stage in the 1930s.
For Botswana, Trump represents an ‘unknown’, a dark horse who – after eight years of engagement with the Obama administration – seems to represent a threat to the established bilateral relations. President Ian Khama made his feelings about Trump known and publicly backed the Democrat candidate, Hilary Clinton. The Presidency has been noticeably reticent since the shock result, although some representatives have sought to focus attention on ‘moving forward with relations’.
Trump’s election underscores, once more, the need for a clearer foreign policy for Botswana and the need to separate it from the figurehead of the President as an individual, and rather bank it in an institution.
Botswana has long enjoyed economic, trade, military and aid relations with the US and for the developed country, Botswana represents a dependable strategic ally in a region of vacillating leaders. The US is the biggest consumer of Botswana’s economic mainstay, diamonds, and a key source of technical and financial support for various development and aid programmes.
Foreign policy, which essentially defines the country’s diplomatic position to the rest of the world based on its self-interests, would dictate that it is in Botswana’s best interest to continue aligned to the US as a strategic ally.
While the extent to which Trump is aware of Khama’s utterances is unknown, the billionaire has already shown a remarkably thin skin, dogged vengefulness and a tendency for snap decisions.
Trump’s desire to “bring jobs back to America” could see him push to scrap trade deals that favour countries such as Botswana and even place non-tariff barriers that squeeze certain key sectors such as textiles. It is possible the billionaire could review the assistance the US is providing in critical areas such as health, specifically HIV/AIDS, and other development programmes.
While the development of foreign policy is vested in the head of state and his foreign minister, the pattern of engagement with the world under Khama has betrayed his personal paradigm on certain issues.
It may be time for a more structured and visionary approach involving agencies such as BIDPA clarifying our strategic interests and playing a more engaged advisory role with the presidency, over and above the input of security agencies, political actors and others.
Even more importantly, the communication of foreign policy needs to be congruent, between the Presidency and foreign affairs. It must also be tempered to avoid the inflammatory reactions and statements as we have seen, particularly when ‘hot potato’ issues, such as the death penalty, are questioned. Trump’s hour is here and we need to find a way to ‘play nicely’ with him.
Today’s thought
“Foreign policy is like human relations, only people know less about each other.”
- Joe Biden