President Donald Trump’s second term hit the ground like a sledgehammer. Forget the old “America First” slogans—this time, the White House runs on raw deals and immediate leverage, tossing out decades of diplomatic tradition. The new approach, everything’s on the table, and if Trump wants it, he tries to get it. You can see the ripple effects everywhere, from the icy reaches of Greenland to the bustling markets of New Delhi. Trump himself summed it up best: “Only my own ethics and my mind can stop me.”
Geopolitical Ambitions: From Panama to Greenland
Trump’s brand of “Real Estate Diplomacy” isn’t just a headline—it’s the strategy. Greenland, once the butt of late-night jokes, suddenly became Trump’s key bargaining chip. He tied a potential “Arctic Deal” to the threat of slapping 10% tariffs on countries like Denmark and Germany, forcing a new “Greenland Framework” that gave the U.S. a heavy hand in the Arctic. Arctic dominance while shaking the foundations of the NATO alliance.
Closer to home, the administration dusted off the old Monroe Doctrine and gave it a modern twist. Trump threatened Panama with either taking back the Canal or hitting them with punishing sanctions unless they took in hundreds of deportees. Meanwhile, his “War on Drugs” jumped to another level—fifteen Latin American groups now wear the Foreign Terrorist Organization label, and U.S. policy in the region looks more like a military campaign than a diplomatic one.
Enforcement State: Vetting and Volatility
Inside the U.S., immigration became a proving ground for the administration’s hard-line stance.
Mass Deportations: ICE’s budget ballooned by 400%. The result, a record-breaking 600,000 deportations in 2025.
Extreme Vetting: Executive Order 14161 blocked entry for people from a dozen countries (Afghanistan and Chad among them), and a freeze on immigration benefits just slammed the door shut for citizens of 19 so-called “high-risk” nations.
Visa Restrictions: For the first time, where you’re from directly decides if you can get an H-1B or H-4 visa. The global workforce didn’t just notice—they panicked.
500 % Tariff Threat to India
500% Tariffs vs. “The Reset”. Perhaps the most shocking shift for South Asian observers is the decoupling of the U.S.-India strategic partnership. No one in South Asia saw this coming. The long-standing U.S.-India partnership raises many questions. Trump blew it up overnight.
Trump, furious over India’s Russian oil deals, backed a bill unleashing 500% tariffs on Indian goods. The message: squeeze India’s $120 billion export market until it falls in line on Ukraine and trade. Then, in a twist, Trump cozied up to Islamabad. He cut tariffs on Pakistani goods, praised their help on counterterrorism (like the Abbey Gate bombing lead), and hinted at deals for minerals and oil. “Tangible offerings,” he called them. Pakistan got a reset, and a big thank-you.
Global Reactions: The Silent Observers
All this action set off alarms around the world, but in the East, leaders played a longer game.
China: Locked in a 145% tariff war with the U.S., China is quietly stepping into the gaps Trump leaves behind. Countries burned by Washington’s unpredictability are turning to Beijing, and the idea of a “China First” world is picking up speed.
Russia: Putin, never one to miss an opening, is softening Russian views of America while sitting back and watching Trump weaken old Western alliances like NATO and the EU. Moscow benefits without lifting a finger.
The Ethics of the Ego
After just a year, it’s clear. Trump isn’t interested in the “liberal international order.” He’s building a new one, based on what each country can deliver to the U.S.—right now. No more talk of shared values, democracy, or human rights.
His fans call it the most effective presidency ever—Trump bulldozes gridlock and gets results. Critics say he’s burning bridges with old allies like India and Denmark while rewarding whoever cuts the best deal, like Pakistan. The U.S., they warn, is swapping long-term stability for flashy, short-term wins.
So the world watches—and wonders. With 500% tariffs and new territorial ambitions, who’s next on Trump’s list? Are you a partner, or are you a target? No one’s sure, and that’s exactly how he likes it.