World Awaits Trump Direction on Foreign Policy

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's campaign rhetoric has sowed anxiety and confusion about the foreign policy path he will pursue.

During the Republican primaries and in the general election contest against former secretary of state Hillary Clinton the wealthy businessman was vague on some key issues, including the fight against the so-called Islamic State group.

On other matters he was consistent and adamant: advocating rejection of the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, renegotiating the nuclear deal with Iran and withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement; all centerpieces of the Obama administration.

The TPP remains important despite reports the White House has given up on congressional approval, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters in New Zealand Sunday.

Climate change

As far as the climate change treaties to which the United States has agreed "we will wait to see how the next administration addresses this, but I believe we're on the right track, and this is a track that the American people are committed to because the majority of the American people believe climate change is, in fact, happening and want to see us address it," Kerry added prior to heading to Oman.

Visiting Antarctica last Friday, the top U.S. diplomat appeared to call for citizens to actively oppose Trump's skepticism toward climate science.

"We need to get more of a movement going," Kerry told several hundred scientists there. "We need to get more people to engage."

Despite an incoming administration that appears intent on wrecking much of what he and predecessor Clinton constructed, Kerry has instructed an orderly transition at the State Department.

"Our focus over the next couple months is making sure the transition runs as smoothly and as efficiently as possible, State Department spokesman John Kirby told VOA.