Evaluations on Donald Trump's Path to Leaving a Lasting Legacy
According to an opinion piece, U.S. President Donald Trump achieving a lasting legacy depends on cooperating with China in the fields of nuclear weapons, the climate crisis, and artificial intelligence.
It is stated that in order for U.S. President Donald Trump to leave a lasting historical legacy, he must cooperate with China against three major existential crises: the proliferation of nuclear weapons, climate change, and the control of artificial intelligence.
The Search for a Lasting Legacy
It is stated that U.S. President Donald Trump wants to be remembered as a great leader in history, but physical monuments and buildings can fade over time.
It is emphasized that a true title of heroism would be possible by bringing the world back from the brink of nuclear weapons, ecological boundaries, and artificial intelligence crises.
The Basis of Common Crises
The primary common point of the three aforementioned crises is that technology has been allowed to advance faster than moral values, politics, and control mechanisms.
It is stated that the United States has played a role in the emergence of these crises and that the key to the solution lies in cooperation with China.
Limitation of Nuclear Weapons
While the US and Russia control approximately 86 percent of the world's nuclear weapons, the only arms control agreement between the two superpowers expired in February.
It is known that Trump is willing to reach a new agreement but conditions it on China being included in this process, yet the Beijing administration is not warm to numerical limitations.
Steps Toward Nuclear Disarmament
Although the number of nuclear warheads has decreased compared to the past thanks to the 1970 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, progress has stalled.
It is noted that Trump could propose limiting the warheads of the US and China to a minimum level, and with this step, Russia could also be included in the process to achieve complete disarmament.
Greenhouse Gases and Climate Policies
The US and China had previously taken joint steps to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and develop clean energy technologies.
It is stated that Trump could rejoin the Paris Agreement and allow clean energy technologies to compete on the basis of cost and performance rather than supporting fossil fuels.
Artificial Intelligence and Global Risks
It is stated that rapid progress in the field of artificial intelligence has the potential to get out of human control and that this situation poses a global threat.
It is known that Trump wants to move forward at full speed so as not to fall behind China, but that China and AI agree that artificial intelligence should not be allowed to control nuclear weapons.
Limited and Safe Applications in Artificial Intelligence
It is recalled that China signed an agreement in July to promote international cooperation.
It is conveyed that Trump could take steps to slow down pioneering artificial intelligence work and focus on narrow but useful applications such as analyzing climate data.
Historical Opportunity and Deal-Making Skill
It is stated that during his remaining two-year term, Trump can test his deal-making skills for these three crises.
It is evaluated that pulling the world out of these crises would be a much more deserved legacy than monuments built in his own name.