One year after Donald Trump’s re-election as U.S. President, Fyodor Lukyanov reflects on the implications of his leadership for America’s global role. The political and psychological shift began immediately following the November 2024 election, signaling a fundamental transformation in the country’s approach to international relations. The article’s key argument is that while Trump has not altered the core structure of American governance, his personality has reshaped how the United States interacts with the world.
Lukyanov’s analysis suggests that Trump’s approach, characterized by its personal and bilateral nature, has uncovered the essential nature of American foreign policy. This shift marks a departure from the previously held notion of a ‘rules-based order’ that the U.S. was perceived to uphold. Instead, the current administration is adopting a more transactional method, where each nation is dealt with on an individual basis, devoid of the traditional institutional frameworks.