5 global crises that could confront Trump's new foreign policy team
President-elect Donald Trump is assembling a foreign policy team that will face a series of major tests that could produce diplomatic successes or degenerate into damaging crises if mishandled.
So far he has tapped retired Army general Michael Flynn as his national security adviser and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley as his U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. He also is considering former presidential candidate Mitt Romney for secretary of State and retired Marine Corps general James Mattis for Defense secretary.
Here are five bubbling issues that may force the new team to scramble for solutions:
SYRIA'S CIVIL WAR
Scenario: Russian President Vladimir Putin reads Trump's conciliatory remarks as a green light to go all out to help Syrian President Bashar Assad prevail in his brutal 5-year-old civil war.
Potential crisis: A victorious Assad lets Russia establish a permanent military base in the Middle East, Assad's success expands the influence of close ally Iran in the region, and a new tide of refugees who opposed the Syrian strongman flee to Europe, which already is inundated with migrants.
Challenge for Trump: Let Russia help Assad prevail or continue President Obama's support of rebels to pressure Assad to step down in favor of a diplomatic settlement.
NORTH KOREA'S TESTS
Scenario: Unpredictable North Korean leader Kim Jong Un conducts another nuclear or missile test to see how Trump reacts.
Potential crisis: A rash response by the Trump administration could provoke the erratic Un to up the ante by threatening military action against South Korea and Japan or by kidnapping Americans who venture into North Korea.
Challenge for Trump: Ratchet up the crisis by threatening retaliation or go the diplomatic route by pressing China to use its clout to rein in the North Korean dictator.
IRAN'S NUCLEAR DEAL:
Scenario: Trump acts on his campaign pledge to renegotiate the deal.
Potential crisis: Iran says it is free to resume its nuclear program without restraints, Israel threatens to destroy any weapons development sites, and five other world powers who signed the accord refuse to go along with Trump.
Challenge for Trump: Stick to his pledge to "rip up" the deal or accept it and use the verification provisions to make sure Iran complies with all the terms for limiting its program to peaceful purposes.
UKRAINE'S CONFLICT
Scenario: Russia helps separatists make a new push for independence in eastern Ukraine on the belief that Trump's pro-Putin leanings suggest he won't intervene.
Potential crisis: Renewed fighting erupts, and Ukraine's national government seeks U.S. weapons and new sanctions imposed on Russia.
Challenge for Trump: Come to ally Ukraine's aid and risk a proxy war with Russia, continue Obama's use of sanctions and diplomatic pressure to restrain Russia or follow his isolationist instincts and say it's not a U.S. problem.
CHINA'S TRADE:
Scenario: China responds to Trump's campaign threat to place tariffs on Chinese imports by threatening to impose its own tariffs on U.S. imports and dump billions worth of U.S. Treasury bonds it holds.
Potential crisis: The world's two largest economies face a crippling trade war, and financial markets crash.
Challenge for Trump: Stick to his campaign pledge to prod China to curb imports, risking market volatility and a recession, or accept the status quo and pursue longer-term talks aimed at finding more favorable trade terms for the USA.