Radio National Breakfast How has US foreign policy changed under Trump 2.0?
Mar 29, 2026
Stephen E. Biegun, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and Lowy Institute fellow, discusses timelines and limits in the Middle East crisis. He contrasts Trump 2.0’s transactional, public decision style with traditional alliance politics. He explores risks to US-Europe ties, implications for the US pivot to Asia, and possible strategic openings for China.
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Trump Signals A Short Escalation Window
- President Trump signals a short, limited appetite for escalation, suggesting roughly two to three more weeks of intense action.
- Stephen Biegun notes this timeframe is public and constrained, but outcomes depend on Iranian responses and international dynamics.
Iran's Scale Limits U.S. Coercion
- Iran's size and resilience limit U.S. ability to impose rapid outcomes; it's a major adversary unlike recent conflicts.
- Biegun highlights Iran's 93 million population and fourfold size compared with Iraq to explain endurance.
Public Decision Making Makes Policy Unpredictable
- Trump’s foreign policy combines substantive policy shifts with very public decision-making that unsettles partners.
- Biegun says the president often announces hard positions, retreats, relitigates, then consults allies, creating unpredictability.