It is beginning to appear that the US is sending conflicting signals to her rivals, her admirers, her foes and her allies around the world. These days, it is not unusual for the Americans to make not well thought out foreign policy statements only to make a U-turn shortly after.




One does not need to be a genius to know that this is not the best way to command respect around the world. It is certainly not the way to inspire confidence in those who look up to America. I believe that governments that look up to the US expect the planet's sole super power to be a good example for other nations.




In the latest somersault, the Pentagon has just announced that it would be sending reinforcements to northern Syria. This was weeks after President Trump said that he was bringing all US troops back home. At home, the President was criticised for giving up oil fields captured from Islamic State and abandoning allies.





Overall, from the look of things, it would seem that in most of his foreign policy pronouncements and clandestine operations, the American President is guided by his business interests and not by America's strategic interests. Most people are aware that Mr Trump has a business presence in Russia, Turkey and other places like Ukraine. This makes it easy for the President to be manipulated by foreign leaders like Presidents Putin, Erdogan and other leaders.