In the name of “America First,” former US President Donald Trump has once again upended the norms of international diplomacy. Over the past year, his actions and statements have repeatedly challenged global institutions, ignored long-standing conventions, and unsettled world leaders.
In an interview on January 8, 2026, Trump bluntly declared, “I don’t need international law. The only limit on my power is my own morality.” The remark summed up what many analysts now call a year of defiance, disregard, and mockery of the rules-based global system.
Since returning to power on January 20, 2025, Trump has reshaped US foreign policy on his own terms. Institutions like the United Nations, the International Court of Justice, the G-20 and the WTO have struggled to respond to what critics describe as unilateralism at its peak.
One of the most shocking moments came when Trump claimed that US forces had conducted a secret operation in Venezuela, allegedly detaining President Nicolás Maduro and his wife without any prior approval from Congress or the UN. He even announced that the US would “run Venezuela” until a “safe transition” was completed — a statement that stunned the international community.
Trump also intensified his trade war strategy. Defying WTO norms, he imposed sweeping tariffs on multiple countries, including India. In April 2025, he invoked emergency economic powers to slap a 10% tariff on imports from all nations, claiming it earned the US billions. The legality of this move is now under review in America’s own Supreme Court.
In West Asia, Trump positioned himself as a peace broker in Gaza — but not without controversy. He formed a so-called “Board of Peace” and appointed himself chairman, while reportedly demanding a billion-dollar entry fee from countries wishing to join. His Gaza reconstruction vision also tied closely to US corporate interests.
Trump’s decision to strike Iran without UN Security Council approval further strained international law. The attack was justified as a response to a “future threat,” a concept that has no clear legal standing in global norms.
In November 2025, Trump pushed South Africa out of the G-20, accusing it of failing to meet US standards. He later blocked its invitation to the 2026 summit in Miami, reinforcing his belief that no global platform should exist without American dominance.
He also withdrew the US from the World Health Organization, calling it “China-controlled” and mismanaged. This cut hundreds of millions of dollars in funding and weakened global disease surveillance and emergency response systems.
In January 2026, Trump went further by signing a memorandum to pull the US out of 66 international organizations, including climate bodies like the Paris Agreement and IPCC. His administration branded them “wasteful,” “globalist,” and “threats to sovereignty.”
Now, Trump has even set his sights on Greenland, claiming it is vital for US security. His expansionist rhetoric has raised alarm across Europe and Asia alike.
Experts say Trump’s first year has seriously shaken the foundations of the global rules-based order. Through tariffs, withdrawals, military actions and diplomatic pressure, he has promoted a vision of power over partnership — one that critics describe as open defiance of international law and cooperation.
