“Do what I want or face the consequences” is the message to allies and traditional enemies alike. Most were shaped by the US and sustained by a framework of law and consensual participation. Even the smallest countries had a place at the table at important organisations like the UN. This is the way things are, it seems to say – the neutral are weak, the powerful will come out on top. Trump is profoundly wrong about his assumptions, and in the end the US – and others – will pay the price for his folly.

Source: The Irish Times January 17, 2026 07:03 UTC