In just a short span of three weeks, Donald Trump has altered the global geopolitical landscape. His recent decisions and actions have made it clear that his administration will prioritize the United States above all else for the next four years. The national media has begun to take notice, with outlets like CNN reporting that “the relations of the United States with Europe will not be the same after Trump’s call to Putin.”
Shift in Transatlantic Relations
Trump has never been secretive about his lack of interest in Europe, often stating that “we have a little thing called Ocean in between.” During his electoral campaign, he hinted that he might not defend NATO members who have not invested enough in defense. This week, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth traveled to Europe to formalize the request for NATO members to spend 5% of their GDP on defense. Hegseth warned that “the United States will no longer tolerate an unbalanced relationship that foster dependence.”
The US political generations that once understood the importance of having a strong alliance with Europe are no longer in government, and Trump seems to struggle with the concept of a transatlantic alliance that has its roots in the 19th century. As a result, he is applying measures that seem to be based on his own vision of the world, shaped by his “Baby Boomer” perspective.
Trump has also expressed his intention to “clean” the Gaza Strip, which he describes as a “disaster,” by relocating millions of Palestinians and turning the area into a tourist destination, the “Riviera del Oriente Middle.” Furthermore, he plans to dismantle the USAID, which provides aid to countries with low resources and serious problems, such as those in Africa. This move not only cuts off financial support but also weakens US influence and presence in these countries.
Ukraine and the Middle East
For Ukraine, Trump has other plans. The US has continued to send military aid, but Trump is seeking something in return, namely the exploitation of rare earth minerals abundant in the former Soviet republic. Trump has also maintained a phone call with the other party to the conflict without inviting Volodimir Zelenski to the initial conversations. Meanwhile, Hegseth hinted at the bases of a future agreement to end the conflict, stating that “the US does not believe that Ukraine membership to NATO is a realistic result for a negotiated agreement.”
In addition, Hegseth confirmed that “there will be no troops” deployed in Ukraine to stop the Russian invasion and that restoring Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders, before the invasion of the Crimean Peninsula, “is an unrealistic objective.” These developments mark a significant shift in US policy towards Ukraine and the Middle East.
Cultural and Ideological Differences
The different cultural, social, and idealistic approaches between the old and new worlds are becoming increasingly apparent. During a television interview, Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted the disparity, stating that when European powers are asked to invest more in defense, they argue that this would require cutting welfare programs, unemployment benefits, and other public services. Rubio asks, “are we going to have to subsidize that?” His remarks reflect the difficulty of understanding a system based on public aid, coming from a country where most basic services are private.
