Why does Trump seek "friendship" with Putin, and what are the U.S. plans for Ukraine? Let's delve into the controversial "Project 2025."

In the lead-up to the elections, Donald Trump's opponents lamented that from the very first days in office, he would adhere to an aggressive roadmap known as "Project 2025". This plan, they claimed, would bring an end to democracy and pave the way for dictatorship. The first month of Trump's presidency showcased a striking resemblance between his decisions and the proposals outlined in the aforementioned document. To better understand what to expect from the 47th president of the United States and his team, international observer of the "Telegraph," Olga Kirillova, conducted a detailed analysis of the document and will compare it with Trump's current actions in this text.

As previously reported by the "Telegraph," the authors of "Project 2025" are specialists from the analytical center "Heritage Foundation," established in Washington in 1973. The foundation is considered one of the most influential conservative research organizations in the United States.

Their close collaboration with the White House began in 1980 when Republican Ronald Reagan was elected president. The foundation provided his transition team with detailed policy prescriptions covering everything from taxes and regulations to trade and national defense. This resulted in the 1100-page "Mandate for Leadership."

During his second term, Reagan again turned to the foundation for ideas. Under the presidency of Democrat Bill Clinton, the Heritage Foundation's proposals became the basis for reforms in the welfare system aimed at helping low-income individuals start working.

According to the foundation, Trump's first administration adopted 64% of its prescriptions. In 2023, the organization released a new "Mandate for Leadership" along with the associated "Project 2025," which contains guidance for the next Republican president and their first 180 days in office.

Trump has repeatedly distanced himself from the conservative action plan, stating that he "doesn't know who is behind it." However, American media outlets managed to identify over 200 individuals connected to both "Project 2025" and the politician himself.

First Steps

There are indeed echoes of the proposed conservative policies in the new administration's decisions. Furthermore, an analysis by CNN indicates that in the first week of his presidency, 36 out of 53 of Trump's decrees and actions align with the proposals outlined in the "Mandate for Leadership."

For instance, the project called for "swift and aggressive" punishment of countries that refuse to accept deported migrants, as Trump did when Colombia blocked two American military planes carrying deportees. In response, Washington announced the need to impose a 25% tariff on goods from Colombia, with an increase to 50% a week later. Within a day, Colombian President Gustavo Petro quickly backed down and accepted Trump's conditions.

The idea from the "Mandate" regarding the deployment of military forces along the southern border to stop illegal immigration also manifested in one of Trump's first decrees.

"Project 2025" advised the president to "immediately revoke security clearance" for national security officials suspected of political bias, which Trump did within hours of taking office.

Trump withdrew the U.S. from the World Health Organization again. He first did this in 2020, citing the "inadequate response to the pandemic" by the WHO. Joe Biden rescinded his opponent's decision during his term, but Trump once again said goodbye to the international organization.

"The obvious failure and corruption of the World Health Organization (WHO) during the COVID-19 pandemic exemplifies the danger that international organizations pose to the citizens and interests of the U.S.," stated the "Mandate for Leadership." The plan indicated that when institutions act against U.S. interests, the government "must be ready to take appropriate countermeasures, including withdrawal from them."

According to observations by The New York Times, Trump has signed a series of decrees concerning energy and the environment, aiming to reverse Biden's climate policies and ramp up drilling for oil and gas and the extraction of natural resources.

"Many of these recommendations are contained in the document 'Project 2025,' which is based on Trump's first-term agenda to center fossil fuels in U.S. energy policy."

Another example: Trump openly opposed the practice of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), aimed at ensuring equality for ethnic, gender, and other social groups. On the day of his return to the White House, he signed an executive order terminating all DEI programs in the federal government.

In his order, Trump stated that such policies could close opportunities for Americans "deserving of the American dream" due to their race or gender.

"Project 2025" previously called for the next conservative president to eliminate several terms, including DEI and gender equality, from all federal regulations and documents.

Among Trump's other first steps was a directive to reinstate all military personnel who were discharged after refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. This was explicitly called for in the "Mandate for Leadership" by one of its authors, Christopher Miller.

Notably, the 47th president appointed several individuals to key government positions who helped create "Project 2025." Both Tom Homan, responsible for border issues in the White House, and the new CIA director John Ratcliffe contributed to the "Mandate for Leadership."

Brendan Carr, appointed by Trump as the head of the Federal Communications Commission, wrote an entire chapter dedicated to the agency he now leads.

Russ Vought, the current director of the Office of Management and Budget, also outlined his vision for the structure he now heads in the "Mandate for Leadership." Republicans believe Vought's thinking will be crucial for reducing federal spending.

But domestic policy is America's business, right? Let's focus on the fundamentals of foreign policy outlined in "Project 2025."

Trump's Diplomatic Machine 2.0

The author of the section on foreign policy priorities is Kiron Skinner, a political scientist who served as the director of policy planning at the State Department during Trump's first term.

The author believes that the American people deserve a diplomatic machine fully focused on national interests, and it is the president who must set the domestic and international agenda for the nation. She sees the State Department primarily as an effective tool for the White House.

"The president can make the State Department more efficient by providing a clear foreign policy vision, selecting political leaders and career diplomats who will enthusiastically turn that vision into a political agenda," the plan states.

Skinner asserts that there are several countries in the world that require increased attention from the U.S. Some of these pose an existential threat to the safety of the American people, others threaten to harm the American economy, and still others are "wild cards," the extent of whose threats is unknown but concerning.

"The five countries that the next administration should focus its attention and energy on are China, Iran, Venezuela, Russia, and North Korea," the plan notes.

Cold War with Beijing

For instance, the author's belief is that China's aggressive behavior can only be curbed through external pressure. This requires significant growth in the economy and power of the U.S.

"Such a position will require real, sustained, almost unprecedented growth for the U.S.; stronger partnerships; synchronized economic and security policies; American energy independence—but above all, it will require a very honest view of the PRC as a threat, not a competitor," the mandate states.

The authors note that the U.S. government needs a "Article X" regarding China, and this should be "a deeply philosophical view of the Chinese challenge." "Project 2025" views China as a communist dictatorship threatening the prosperity of nations worldwide.

For reference: "Article X" is an anti-communist article officially titled "The Sources of Soviet Behavior," written by diplomat George Kennan and published under the pseudonym "X" in the July 1947 issue of Foreign Affairs. It introduced the term "containment" into widespread use and advocated for the use of this concept against the Soviet Union.

Kennan emphasized that the Soviet Union seeks to expand its influence but can be stopped through prolonged political and economic pressure, rather than direct military conflict.

Recently, the "Heritage Foundation" outlined its updated priorities for the upcoming year. Countering Beijing is priority number one.

"The Communist Party of China... is restructuring its military to challenge the U.S., stealing American technology at an unprecedented rate, and harming American workers with predatory economic policies. America is falling behind in this new Cold War," states a sort of manifesto.

"Heritage" will insist on isolating key sectors of the American economy from Chinese influence. Specifically, it promises to expose American firms lobbying for Chinese interests and work to halt the flow of fentanyl (a synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin) from China, which "kills 100,000 Americans annually."

Trump has already taken initial steps against Beijing and plans to tighten restrictions on current investments between the United States and China. For example, Trump imposed a 10% tariff on