Global capitals are in a state of high alert as a series of aggressive foreign policy moves from Donald Trump's administration signal a stark return to a form of US imperialism, leaving allies and adversaries alike scrambling to formulate a response.
A Resurgent Doctrine of Power
The pattern is unmistakable and disruptive. It is not confined to a single region or issue. The strategy encompasses military threats against long-standing partners like Colombia and Cuba, revived talk of the US purchasing Greenland from Denmark, and the dramatic seizure of oil tankers in both European and Caribbean waters. These actions, taken together, represent a coherent and confrontational shift in how Washington projects its power on the world stage.
Jonathan Freedland, in a recent podcast discussion, sought to unpack this rapid transformation with Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian Anne Applebaum. The conversation centred on the practical and geopolitical consequences of a world order being reshaped, often by the hour, from the White House.
Venezuela's Oil at the Centre of the Storm
A primary flashpoint remains Venezuela, where the nation's vast oil reserves are a clear target. The administration's focus there is part of a broader pattern of leveraging economic and military might to secure energy resources and exert influence. This direct approach upends decades of diplomatic convention and bilateral agreements, replacing them with a transactional and coercive model of statecraft.
The seizure of tankers is a tangible manifestation of this policy, sending a chilling message to global markets and sovereign nations about the risks of crossing Washington's new red lines. It creates immediate legal and logistical crises while establishing a precedent that could reverberate far beyond the current incidents.
Global Reckoning and Response
For world leaders, the challenge is multifaceted. There is the immediate task of managing specific crises, such as protecting maritime sovereignty or responding to territorial propositions about Greenland. More profoundly, there is the strategic dilemma of how to engage with an United States that is openly embracing a revived imperial posture.
As Anne Applebaum's analysis suggests, the international community must now operate in an environment where traditional alliances are tested and the rules-based order is under direct assault from one of its principal architects. The scramble is not just about countering individual actions but about devising a sustainable framework for a world where US foreign policy is increasingly unpredictable and rooted in assertions of raw power.
The coming months will test the resilience of global institutions and the diplomatic ingenuity of nations from Europe to the Caribbean, all navigating the turbulent waters of Trump's second-term ambitions.
