How Trumpism is Reshaping Global Governance and International Relations

US President Donald Trump salutes during the national anthem at the start of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix Race in Washington on August 23, 2026 [AFP]. The post-World War II era was built on an idealism that established a vast network of multilateral institutions and Western-led governance systems. That traditional order has now reached a critical historical turning point.

The foreign policy approach defined during the two administrations of United States President Donald Trump—characterized by unilateralism, transactional nationalism, and the reevaluation of long-standing alliances—marks a definitive departure from past international norms. By blending coercive leverage with strategic media tactics, this shift has introduced a distinct foreign policy phenomenon known as Trumpism.

By pairing assertions of national sovereignty with an anti-establishment message, Trumpism systematically challenges the fundamental assumptions that have guided global governance for decades. At its core, it represents a deliberate pivot away from broad, Western-led global dominance toward a decentralized, issue-driven, and intensely transactional international framework.

The pillars of transactional statecraft

Trumpism has replaced traditional multilateral obligations with a pragmatic focus on economic statecraft and national interests. Foreign policy actions are now directly linked to domestic economic goals, such as reindustrialization, a strengthened defense industrial base, energy dominance, balanced trade, and leadership within the financial sector.

To achieve these objectives, the Trump administration has bypassed expansive multinational treaties in favor of direct bilateral deals, utilizing aggressive tariffs, coercive trade strategies, and economic sanctions as core instruments of national power. The widespread use of sanctions and aggressive international enforcement has sparked intense global debates regarding international law, state sovereignty, and the limits of national jurisdiction.

Operating under the motto “peace through strength,” Trumpism combines legal, economic, and security tools to exert pressure on both allies and rivals. Law enforcement and national security mandates are frequently utilized directly as instruments of foreign policy. This transactional approach also impacts collective security frameworks like NATO, where Trumpism has driven intense scrutiny of defense burden-sharing and highlighted imbalances where the US previously absorbed a disproportionate amount of financial and strategic costs.

Institutional disruption and systemic paralysis

The systemic effects of Trumpism are felt across every level of global governance. In international forums, the administration has demonstrated notable unpredictability, frequently withdrawing from established international agreements and stepping back from multilateral organizations. This volatile approach has exposed vulnerabilities within global systems, speeding up the fragmentation of the post-Cold War liberal international order.

The United Nations, especially the UN Security Council, has experienced significant institutional disruption as a result. The policies of Donald Trump have intensified existing debates surrounding the legitimacy, representation, and effectiveness of the UNSC. Analysts point out that deep-rooted geopolitical rivalries and institutional inertia had already left the UNSC struggling to enact meaningful structural reforms.

While supporters argue that the Trump administration is pushing for necessary institutional improvements through targeted engagement—such as working with aligned allies and consulting the UN secretary-general on key priorities—critics contend that these actions prioritize short-term national goals over global stability.

The rise of a multipolar and regionalised order

As the US reduces its role in global leadership, the resulting power shift is driving a major reorganization of international politics. Middle powers and regional blocs are increasingly stepping up to fill governance gaps, establishing regional frameworks and targeted coalitions as alternatives or supplements to traditional Western-led institutions.

This global transition has sparked intense debate among international relations experts regarding the legacy of Donald Trump. Some maintain that these disruptions act as a catalyst for reform and resilience, encouraging middle powers and non-Western nations to take greater charge of their regional security and economic needs. Others warn that US withdrawal from multilateral agreements has weakened collective security and damaged institutional legitimacy, potentially leading to increased strategic competition and regional instability.

Redefining great power

The foreign policy of the Trump presidency represents a lasting and reproducible paradigm of international statecraft. By utilizing unpredictable diplomacy, favoring national prosperity over institutional stability, and enforcing absolute national sovereignty, Trumpism is actively redefining how a great power exerts influence in the modern world.