DONALD TRUMP’S FIRST phone call with an international leader as US President-elect was with an army general who seized power and his second was set up by a golfer.
With Trump having no political experience, his interactions with world leaders are being closely watched. Just after his election, his delay in phoning British Prime Minister Theresa May was seen as an embarrassment for the Conservative leader.
Today, with the Trump transition team says he has spoken to 29 world leaders – the first of which was Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who seized power three years ago.
The second phone call Trump took with a world leader was with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, a call set up by golfing legend – and Trump golfing partner – Greg Norman.
Turnbull spoke to the tycoon soon after his surprise victory in the US election last week, describing the billionaire as a dealmaker who would “view the world in a very practical and pragmatic way”.
His office confirmed to AFP a Sydney Daily Telegraph report that Norman, known as the “Great White Shark”, gave Australia’s ambassador to the US a phone number “closely linked to Trump”.
The spokesman would not confirm it was the Republican’s mobile number, as reported by the newspaper, which said Turnbull was the second world leader to reach Trump after his shock win.
Unusual
Trump’s style of diplomacy has been somewhat unusual according to some observers.
The New York Times said last week that offices of foreign leaders were blindly dialling in to Trump Tower where the real estate developer has been holed up as they scrambled to reach him on the phone.
Trump’s aides on yesterday released a list of 29 foreign leaders and dignitaries he had spoken to after a report by paper that the transition was in disarray.
Trump’s staff have broken from tradition by failing to acknowledge phone calls or other contact with world leaders.
Meeting
Trump is set for his first diplomatic meeting today, as he host Japanese premier Shinzo Abe at Trump Tower in New York.
“I’m honoured to meet with President-elect Trump ahead of other world leaders,” Abe told reporters. “I’d like to discuss with President Trump our dreams for the future.”
Trump’s blithe comment during the campaign that the US might be “better off” with nuclear-armed Asian allies has thrown into question the US security umbrella over Japan and South Korea.
His later disavowal of the remarks has done little to restore confidence in Washington as the lone superpower ready to face down a rising China and a capricious North Korea.
Trump has also talked about yanking thousands of troops from the region unless Tokyo and Seoul pay more of their hosting costs, despite the opportunity that would present to China and its ambitions for regional supremacy.
Despite the faultlines, the Trump camp made positive noises ahead of the meeting with Abe.
It “shows Mr Trump’s commitment to the relationship” with Japan, Republican Devin Nunes, a member of the presidential transition team, told reporters after talks with an Abe aide in Washington to prepare for the meeting.
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