Report: Trump's New Foreign Policy Changes the Nature of International Relations

SadaNews - International relations are experiencing a significant change during President Trump's second term, resulting from his new approach to dealing with the world, which exploits U.S. military power to win negotiations and ensure American interests. Below is a report from "Time" magazine, attempting to answer the question: How do Trump's maneuvers in foreign policy contribute to reshaping the world? **Trump's Threats to Countries for Concessions** On the eve of his second term, Trump captured global attention with his statement that the U.S. must regain control over the Panama Canal, thereby disrupting the stability of relations between the two countries, as he accused Panama of charging the United States exorbitant fees for passage through the canal and allowing China to have significant influence over its operations. This incident is considered an initial indication of the profound change that will characterize the relationship between the United States and the rest of the world. As a result of Trump's severe threats to Panama's President, José Raúl Molinos, the latter quickly agreed to several concessions to the American president, including a review of China's investments in his country. **Use of U.S. Military Power** Trump did not rely solely on threats as a means of negotiation as he did with Panama; he later greenlit a bold military operation in which U.S. special forces kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and brought him to New York for trial. Trump described this move as a major blow against drug trafficking and as enabling the United States to act on Venezuela's vast oil reserves. This operation represented the largest use of American military force in the western part of the world in decades, showcasing Trump's willingness to act unilaterally, disregarding the careful alliance-building strategy that characterized previous U.S. foreign interventions. **Trump's Foreign Policy in His First Year is Marked by Rudeness** Trump's foreign policy during the first year of his second term is marked by rudeness. In quick succession, he bombed Houthi militias in Yemen, Iranian nuclear facilities, mediated a fragile ceasefire in Gaza, pressured European leaders to increase their military spending, extracted strategic international commitments from China, demanded Denmark surrender Greenland, threatened hefty tariffs on all significant U.S. trading partners, covered billions to support an Argentinian president, freed the former Honduran president convicted of drug trafficking, and ordered military strikes on ships in the Caribbean and Pacific Oceans under the pretext of drug trafficking, which resulted in over 95 deaths, leading to accusations of war crimes against the U.S. Trump also recently indicated that military strikes against Iran could be imminent amidst ongoing protests in the Iranian republic. **Trump's Political Doctrine** Analysts believe that Trump's political doctrine during his second term is to use American power as a means of pressure, which explains the widespread geographic spread of American maneuvers in his first year of second term—a feat not achieved by any previous modern U.S. president. Trump's frenzied diplomacy transformed U.S. foreign policy into an individual effort, sidelining the previous system that characterized U.S. foreign policy. Experts noted that the circle of influence around the president is narrow, consisting of advisors chosen for their loyalty to him rather than their expertise. Trump's new approach to U.S. foreign policy has disrupted global diplomatic relations that had previously maintained stability and required intricate behind-the-scenes coordination to implement even the smallest changes. One outcome of Trump's second term is that high-ranking officials in the U.S. encouraged the rise of right-wing movements in Europe and supported cuts in foreign aid, which led to warnings about avoidable deaths in developing countries. **Trump's Chaotic Decisions** Analysts observed that Trump's chaotic and ill-considered decisions lead to temporary results. In Gaza, for example, the ceasefire eased the fighting but left the region lacking stability and unanswered questions about Israel's complete withdrawal. In Ukraine, Trump's support for urgent peace was widely criticized as strengthening Russia's position. Furthermore, several other fragile peace agreements sponsored by Trump have been classified as immature. **Trump's Point of Strength** While it is believed that the unpredictability of Trump's movements may be a burden, it is simultaneously seen by some analysts as his point of strength. World leaders fear his anger and adjust their behavior to avoid provoking him. This approach may not foster a sustained alliance, but many acknowledge it has made progress in issues that previous administrations struggled with. Historian Hal Brands stated, "Trump believes the United States has not used its global power enough," adding that "the issues where Trump succeeded in imposing his terms are many." **The Impact of Trump's Foreign Policy on Global Leaders' Behavior** Political science professor Javier Corrales stated, "Trump likes to portray himself on the global stage as the disciplinarian; he will treat you poorly until you come to him with a proposal he likes." Trump's new foreign policy has led world leaders to adjust their statements to avoid upsetting the American president. Many global leaders have nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize, which he has claimed he deserves. These public statements revealed a central change: world leaders have begun to prioritize managing Trump's feelings as a strategic necessity. European leaders publicly praise him, and the Secretary-General of NATO referred to Trump as the "father." A Swiss delegation gifted him a gold bar, and Qatar presented him with a plane worth $400 million. Additionally, dozens of presidents from around the world have traveled to Washington to express their appreciation for Trump's support. Trump's supporters explain this change as evidence of his demonstration of American dominance, while global leaders see him as a president whose annoyance threatens geopolitical stability. Evidence of this includes Trump's imposition of tariffs on imported goods and his threats to his trading partners with such actions. Trump views import tariffs as a diplomatic hammer and has used them to discipline the behaviors of Pakistan, India, Canada, Europe, and Britain. He also threatened military action and halted aid to advance stalled negotiations with Mexico, in the Middle East, and other countries. These maneuvers reflect a new vision embraced by Trump: that American power is not given for the common good, but is a leverage to be exchanged for services beneficial to the United States.