The man who redefined America's power

Global impact

Nowhere was this clearer than in the Middle East. Trump made his intentions unmistakable by selecting Riyadh for his first official visit. This was no ceremonial gesture—it signalled that Saudi Arabia would anchor its regional strategy. There, in the cultural and political heart of the Arab and Islamic worlds, he unveiled a new framework— one that empowered regional states to shape their own futures.

The visit marked a turning point in the historic US–Saudi alliance—one that was no longer defined purely by oil or security, but by a shared ambition for stability and development. Trump recognised Saudi Arabia not as a mere ally of convenience but as a pivotal force for balance and moderation. Without Riyadh, his regional policy would lack coherence and traction.

In a defining moment, Trump brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas following a brutal two-year conflict in Gaza. Drawing on his rapport with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his extensive regional ties, he marshalled pressure that brought both sides to the negotiating table. The result was not just a pause in violence but the foundation for a new security arrangement. It was, in essence, the embodiment of his credo: peace forged through strength, not ceremony.

Elsewhere, Trump applied a similarly unsentimental calculus. He dismissed the Iran nuclear deal as dangerously one-sided, arguing that it emboldened Tehran without curbing its behaviour. His response was direct. He opted for economic confrontation over diplomatic compromise, then escalated to targeted strikes on Iran's nuclear infrastructure. The move compelled Tehran to agree to a ceasefire with Tel Aviv. Trump was both architect and observer of the setbacks that soon befell Iran and its regional proxies.

In the fight against terrorism, he stripped the narrative of grandiosity. He downsized military deployments and revived America's reliance on precision operations, favouring speed and strategic focus over drawn-out interventions. His doctrine expanded beyond traditional theatres to include Latin America, where he launched a campaign targeting the nexus between narcotics and terrorism.

With Western allies, Trump practised a painful candour. He pressed European nations to take financial and strategic responsibility for their own defence, securing increased NATO contributions. He also abandoned patience with Vladimir Putin, once he realised the Russian leader was less interested in peace than in carving up eastern Ukraine for long-term control.

In Asia, Trump launched an unapologetic economic confrontation with China. He argued that years of unchecked trade engagement had allowed Beijing to distort the global system to its advantage. The trade war, in his eyes, was not a rupture but a necessary correction.

Decision driver

Supporters credit Trump with revitalising America's image as a nation capable of decisive action. The White House ceased to be a silent observer of crises and became an active destination for diplomacy, offering both resolution and resolve. Amid global instability, Trump positioned Washington not as a follower of shifting tides but as a driver of clarity and decision.

One year into his second term, the impact is indisputable. Trump has redrawn many of the world's geopolitical lines and redefined what it means to lead. In doing so, he made the case that realism—far from negating values—can serve as their strongest defence.