Contrary to all predictions of the dominant media, Donald Trump has been elected president. Even more amazingly, he not only won through an absurd electoral system, but also won the popular vote. Even Hillary Clinton performed better than Kamala Harris.
I'm not going to go into more depth about the domestic and international policy folly of the neoconservative Republicans and neoliberal Democrats who served as midwives to demagogue Trump and Trumpism. There isn't. Certain numbers speak for themselves. $8 trillion spent and spending continues to rise There have been no real geopolitical gains in the wars since 9/11.
These wars then transformed into what the first Trump administration called “great power rivalry” after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. Delayed response to NATO expansion to the sphere of influence and security of the former Soviet Union.
Mr. Trump is correct in pointing out that the global geopolitical crisis is now worse than it was when he left office, given the human and economic costs of war between the United States.Ukraine between Russia and the United States,Israel and Iran, and Iran's “Axis of Resistance” – in addition to rising military tensions between the two countries. North Korea and South Korea and in between China and Taiwan.
Is Trump really the kind of leader who can do that? “Stop the war” Is it as he claims? Or will his peace-by-force policy cause the conflict he now claims to be against?
In many ways, the containment policies of the first Trump administration set the stage for policies followed and strengthened by President Biden. And now Trump must pick up where Biden left off.
It was President Trump's first administration,did not negotiate a deal with the Taliban the withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan, which Biden followed; What a humiliation after 20 years!
The first Trump administration was Withdrew from Barack Obama's Iran nuclear deal And that led Iranian hardliners to accelerate Iran's nuclear enrichment program, which was one of the major factors that led to the war between Israel and Iran. In retaliation for Iran's missile attack on Israel in October 2024, Trump, as a presidential candidate, Urges Biden to attack Iran's nuclear facilities. Instead, Biden advocated a more balanced attack to prevent the war from spreading to the Gulf region.
Now, Biden is playing his version of “peace through strength.” deployed A squadron of six B-52s and F-15s heads to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. simultaneous deployment Israel's THAAD missile defense system. Will the Iranians negotiate with Trump the Dragon Slayer after he orders it? assassination What about their hero General Soleimani? Is diplomacy possible to prevent war between Israel and Iran?
And can President Trump really pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept a ceasefire with Hamas? social media rumors Claim? The Biden administration has failed miserably in achieving that goal. Or will President Trump give Prime Minister Netanyahu free rein to expand a “greater Israel” at the expense of the Palestinians and at the risk of destabilizing the entire region?
President Trump said he could make peace with Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un and Xi Jinping. However, Mr. Trump did not have a serious dialogue with Mr. Putin. he took no steps to forge A new system of Euro-Atlantic security Either by diplomatically disavowing NATO expansion into Ukraine, or by finding a way to provide defense assistance and international peacekeeping forces to Ukraine as a neutral, non-nuclear state. Can President Trump put pressure on Kiev and Moscow? compromise?
Contrary to his claims, President Trump in June 2019 Photography in North Korea It was a complete disaster. Immediately after his visit, Mr. Kim Expand missile and nuclear weapons testing — before President Trump leaves office. Now, North Korean troops fighting against Ukrainian troops In Russia's Kursk region, President Putin is playing the “North Korea card” against Ukraine, the United States, and South Korea. As a result, tensions are rising in both Asia and Europe. What would Trump do?
Relations with China plummeted under the Trump administration, which insisted on Taiwan's independence. Strengthening US protectionism Exports to China. Now Trump seems to be threatening Even harsher sanctions About China. Will a tough stance lead to compromise between the US and China? Or will Beijing test the US again? “Paper Tiger” Did Mao try to blockade Taiwan like he did during the Korean War?
That was Trump too. Abandoned the 1987 INF Treaty The treaty ended the Cold War by eliminating U.S. and Russian ground-based intermediate-range missiles, but President Trump has revised the treaty in light of Beijing's deployment of such weapons. It didn't even try to bring China into the treaty. Now, the Biden administration is threatening to deploy intermediate-range missiles. german missile Russia match in 2026 philippines vs china. Again, what would Trump do?
claims to have received a blessing from God after the incident failed assassination attempt Questions remain about him. Did demagogue Trump really have the strategic wisdom to prevent the real danger of Armageddon? Or will it become the Trump of World War?
hall gardner Professor Emeritus of the Department of History and Political Science at the American University of Paris. He is the author of Averting Global War. “World War Trump”. “IR Theory, Historical Analogies, and Great Power War” and “Toward an Alternative Transatlantic Strategy.” He is working on his next book, “Working for World Peace: Reducing the Risk of Great Power War.”
