With wars in Gaza, Lebanon, and Ukraine, and with high tariffs on the horizon, The Economist Editor-In-Chief Zanny Minton Beddoes says president-elect Trump's agenda may be chaotic. But she stays resolutely optimistic about possible good elements in his foreign policy. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
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As the second administration of Donald Trump approaches, among those wondering what to expect are countless foreign leaders whose interests could be mightily affected by his moves.
Trump's foreign policy team has begun to take shape.
He said he'll nominate New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik to be U.S.
ambassador.
Florida Representative Michael Walt will be national security adviser.
And multiple news sources say Florida Senator Marco Rubio is the pick for secretary of state.
While foreign leaders ponder those choices, they can also consider Trump's many statements on the campaign trail, that he could end the war in Ukraine in one day, that he'll impose 20% tariffs on imported goods with higher levies on products from China and Mexico and that he'll deport millions of undocumented immigrants from the United States.
He's also expressed admiration for authoritarian leaders such as Viktor Orban of Hungary.
And he's threatened to abandon NATO allies unwilling to spend more on their own defense.
For some perspective on all this, we turn to Zani Minton Beddoes, editor in chief of the Economist.
Minton Beddoes is a former economist for the International Monetary Fund who's been with the paper since 1994.
She's overseen the economist's international economic coverage from Washington, D.C.
has reported extensively from Latin America and Europe, and is a regular commentator on television and radio.
We recorded our interview yesterday.
Well, Zanni Minton Betto's welcome to FRESH air.