WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump will reaffirm his intention to end USinvolvement in foreign military conflicts when he delivers his State of theUnion (SOTU) address next week, a senior administration told reporters.
“In terms of protecting America’s national security, the president willupdate Congress on his diplomatic and military efforts around the world andreaffirm his determination to protect American interest and bring to an endour endless foreign wars,” the official said on Friday.
Trump in a statement earlier in the day said the United States will soonhave destroyed “100 percent” of the Islamic State terrorist group’s (IS,banned in Russia) so-called caliphate and it was time to start bringing UStroops home from Syria. Meanwhile, a State Department envoy has beenengaged in talks with the Taliban over the possibility of a US withdrawalof forces from Afghanistan.
The administration official also told reporters Trump’s speech will focuson a way forward to resolve the impasse over a proposed wall on theUS-Mexico border.
Congress’ refusal to fund a border wall resulted in a partial governmentshutdown that delayed the annual State of the Union address, originallyscheduled for January 29, until February 5.
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According to the official, Trump will also call on Congress to approve therecently negotiated US Mexico Canada Agreement to replace the NorthAmerican Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). In addition, Trump will review theUS trading relationship with China and ongoing negotiations with Beijingto re-balance commerce between the two superpowers, the official said.
Other themes will include a request that Congress fund a bipartisan packageto fix the nation’s aging infrastructure and efforts to lower costsof health care and drugs. The official described the current draft of thespeech as upbeat in tone and an appeal to Congress for cooperation andcompromise, the official said. -Sputnik
