Trump's supremacy

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Donald Trump is back and due to his unpredictable nature and his unorthodox foreign policy, the world is wary. For many, his first term marked a departure from established norms, and the idea of a second Trump presidency raises questions about the future of key international relationships. As the world anticipates the potential return of the 'America First' agenda, the Middle East, Ukraine and China stand at the forefront of concerns, each facing unique challenges in a Trump-led US administration. His first term saw a series of reckless moves in the Middle East. Most notably, he withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal and recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital. These policy decisions heavily favoured Israel and emboldened the Zionist state further. His second term is predicted to see a continuation of such policies. Further isolation of Iran can be expected along with greater support for Israel in its current war against the Palestinian people.

For Ukraine, a second Trump term has rung alarm bells in Kiev. He has signalled his intent to ditch the outgoing administration's policies by talking to Russian President Vladimir Putin and previously said he would push through a peace deal in the Ukraine conflict. The president-elect has repeatedly urged European countries to do more for Ukraine and has criticised the funding the US contributes to NATO and for Ukraine's defence. Kiev can expect funding to slow down further, and in the worst-case scenario, even be cut off. When it comes to China, Trump will likely escalate the trade war and take a more aggressive stance on tariffs. His confrontational approach in the first term brought tensions to a boiling point and the US is likely to do a hard pivot to counter China under his administration. While some countries may view his return to power as an opportunity to reshape their own strategic interests, others may be forced to brace themselves for a more volatile and unpredictable geopolitical environment.