-Analysis-
PARIS — We are entering a new world Monday, even if we may not fully realize it yet. It’s easy to dismiss Donald Trump’s initial actions as the usual eccentricities, expecting life to return to normal. That would be a mistake.
Yes, we are truly entering a new world. To understand this, one need only look at the statement made last week in the U.S. Senate by Marco Rubio, Trump’s pick for Secretary of State. Rubio explained that the United States has significantly benefited from the international order established after World War II in 1945.
But he added: “The post-war global order is not just obsolete; it is now a weapon used against us. We are once again called upon to create a free world out of chaos.”
For the latest news & views from every corner of the world, Worldcrunch Today is the only truly international newsletter. Sign up here.
Thus, where it was previously believed that the United States sought to defend the world order against “revisionist” powers like Russia and China, Marco Rubio reveals that America also intends to overturn the current order and establish a new one.
American dominance
The 1945 order was built on the collective management of global affairs, marked by the creation of the United Nations and a wide array of so-called multilateral organizations. The United States held a dominant role within this framework, particularly during the Cold War.
Donald Trump no longer believes in this system: he aims to dominate the new world order through America’s power and strength. This marks a paradigm shift, encapsulated by the Trumpian slogan “America First.”
It is a return to the imperial logic of the 19th century.
As Rubio put it, “This will be impossible without a strong and confident America that engages with the world, putting our core national interests above all else.”
The 1945 order was contested not only by Moscow and Beijing but also by the Global South, which was excluded from decision-making centers. However, Trump goes against this demand by seeking American leadership based on power dynamics. It is a return to the imperial logic of the 19th century.
Europe’s challenge
Is it realistic? There is certainly a “Sorcerer’s Apprentice” aspect to this vision of a world based more on force than on law. However, Trump will be leading the world’s largest economy and military, and is supported by the biggest tech companies, whose CEOs are showing their support at Monday’s inauguration.
Whether it’s realistic or not, the rest of the world will feel the impact, as this approach offers little regard to alliances and the interests of others. Europe is left weakened, as Denmark is currently experiencing with Trump’s claim over Greenland. In Copenhagen, there is bonafide consternation and even panic.
But in Brussels, too, people should be worried. When Google warns that it will not comply with European regulations on digital issues, or when Elon Musk refuses to respond to the European Commission’s demand for transparency on X/Twitter’s algorithm, what can the response be? The balance of power does not favor the European Union.
A global opinion poll published last week by the think tank ECFR shows that Europeans are the most negative about the arrival of Donald Trump. They are right, as they are likely to be the first victims. Buckle up, it’s going to be a bumpy ride!
