While it is early days yet for the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush, the broad outlines of his foreign policy are becoming clear. His statements during the campaign hinted at a departure from traditional U.S. policies, and they caused some alarm among America's allies. Mr. Bush's foreign-policy team is designed to quell some of the concern he might have caused, as well as that raised by his lack of experience in the field. Doubts will persist, however, until the new administration is tested. Unfortunately, that is likely to happen soon.
During the campaign, Mr. Bush made clear that his foreign and defense policies would put U.S. national-security concerns above all others. While his statement that the U.S. should be less arrogant when dealing with other nations is welcome, there was also the uncomfortable implication that his government would be less involved in the "entangling alliances" against which founding President George Washington warned. Mr. Bush's support for national missile defense also revealed a willingness to ignore concerns about regional stability when it conflicts with narrowly defined U.S. national interests. That is a troubling policy for the world's remaining superpower.
As a first sign, the new administration seems to be backing away from the intense involvement of its predecessor in the Middle East. The U.S. State Department has said that there are no plans to send a special envoy to peace talks under way in Egypt between Israel and the Palestinians.