By Ranjan Solomon
The world has entered a new era in global politics. In just the three weeks that Trump has been in power, he has created disarray on a range of issues. The world is rather despondent but clearly unwilling to allow the USA to assume the reigns of super power to which all others, especially, the weak must pay obeisance. A major democracy – if you can any longer reckon that the USA is a bona fide democracy – has faulted, and faltered. It makes-believe that there exists a political pyramid where Trump seeks to sit atop and issues orders the world around that must be fulfilled. Don’t they know that an era of multilateralism has been launched has ended? The world now finds itself in a bitter contest with Trump.
Almost every democracy which boasts its system is superior to so-called autocratically-oriented political systems has succumbed to the fault lines of democracy. An election every couple of years does not imply there is a functional democracy. With a vote percentage of 66% in the elections, it was clear that people’s enthusiasm for Washington is fast evaporating.
The crisis in the Middle East has further complicated matters. Trump had announced he would end the, and restore peace. It turns out that Trump is a mere wind bag. 25-plus days after his arrival in the Oval office, he has no solutions. Trump has injected chaos and an overdose of tactless and unachievable proposals as prospective solutions. Each step he takes creates more turmoil.
Despite the horrors that Israel inflicted on them, supported by the USA and a handful of Europeans, the people of Gaza have demonstrated their resilience. They are clear that they are here to stay. The sight of Gazans flowing in relentless streams is a sign of their hopes and dreams. By contrast, Israel is emptying out. Two million or more have left – bag, baggage, pension funds and investments. They see neither security nor peace as a prospect under the Zionists. Israeli coffers are emptying with the flight of people and capital and industry is at a standstill.
The progressive website Countercurrents.org website Kerala, India reports that “the death toll from Israel’s genocide in Gaza has reached 48,239, with 111,676 others injured, according to the Health Ministry on Thursday. Many bodies remain trapped under rubble and in the streets, with rescue teams unable to reach them due to ongoing Israeli restrictions. In the last 24 hours, 17 more bodies arrived at hospitals, including 14 recovered from the rubble and 3 killed or succumbed to injuries…Israel’s ongoing deadly assault in the occupied West Bank has nearly emptied several refugee camps. Some 40,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced since Israel’s military operation dubbed “Iron Wall” launched in the northern Jenin refugee camp on 21 January”.
Gazans need time to fully overcome damage from the ruthless killing spree and destruction of all things valued. Yet the audacious determination of the Palestinians and the colossal pledges of support from other Arab States, and wide sections of the international community, assure Gaza a new future. Egypt confidently announced its intentions to join the rebuilding rather than to create an entity that the USA prefers to auction for profit.
Trump refuses to countenance the exchange of hostages in drips and drabs. He wants all of the exchanges to happen ‘just now’. He has promised to let all hell loose if his wish and command does not work. He announces that we will then take over and own it and operate it. Callous imperialist arrogance!
In conversations with Palestinian comrades, I enquired their vision of the future as they viewed it. They reject the intimidation of the USA and the way Israel is confusing facts-on-the-ground. They speak with confidence that “in droves our people have returned to their homes in Gaza unafraid to face the wrath of Israel’s war machines”.
They steadfastly stand by the letter and spirit of the ceasefire agreement. Trump’s whims and fancies are wild ambitions and dreams and are already in the ashes of history. They assert: “We Palestinians are a people with dignity and rights and refuse to be pressed into solutions that are half-baked, and promoted by political know-nothings like Jared Kushner. They proudly claim: “Palestinian history in the land goes back millennia. Our roots are cultural, religious, and sociological”.
Countries like Egypt and Jordan who were once prone to support the USA-Israel alliance, are also training their guns on Trump’s proposals. King Abdullah II was seen as being intimated in his one-on-one with Trump. Away from the optics, he spoke more forthrightly. Arabs believe they have an Arab solution just as the Palestinians are convinced that they do not require a romantic-colonized ‘Riviera’ to replace the Gaza of their preference and design. Not a single Arab trusts that Gazans will be allowed to return to Gaza once they are ethnically cleansed. This is a despicable bid to steal Gaza and replace the population.
The Arab League has collectively dismissed Trump’s plan with downright contempt. The world has slighted Trump’s devious proposal to shift the Gazan people to Jordan and Egypt because it “threatens the region’s stability, risk of expanding the conflict, and undermine prospects for peace and coexistence among its peoples.”
Netanyahu, probably the man most desperate for a face-saving formula, has suggested that Saudi Arabia could create a Palestinian State there. Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Prime Minister, struck down the idea with fury. Each idea of Trump and Netanyahu has come a cropper. After all, ethnic cleansing contradicts international law and there is zero tolerance for it.
It feels as if the ‘MAGA’ bunch of oligarchs sits together for brainstorming sessions on a ‘Future Search’ for Gaza and come up with wild ideas. With no connect to the ground and their eye exclusively on profit and self-advantage, they just don’t get it right.
Trump will shift uneasily and retract his grandiose plans and bullying threats with a face saver. He has angered far too many countries with his extreme covetousness. He wants Greenland, Canada, Panama Canal, and Gulf of Mexico as Americas. The outbursts from the EU, Canada, Mexico and the people of the street everywhere has exposed him as the most contemptible President that the USA has ever had.
The ‘Battle of tariffs’ is another one Trump is beginning to lose. He is ening weaker, more amenable countries to accept his foul deals. In his talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who derives huge satisfaction from having got a White House meeting with Trump, India may have just ended up with India on the losing side. In the optics of the Trump-Modi Bonhomie, Bhabani Shankar Nayak, political economist and Professor of Management, asks: “Is India Buying America’s Nuclear Junk?”
India is signing up to deals with the US that may not be in India’s interests. Trade arrangements and purchases will get more costly. The US dollar will further rise and our economy will confront. Modi’s visit was no success story even though the Godi media will say it was. India must maintain its integrity. That is a tough ask of country that is essentially weak and under the control of a small band of oligarchs – just as in the USA. India’s democracy is much too weak. Dignity and assertion; these must constitute India’s leadership ideals, not caving in to bully USAQ. .
Trump treats the world as business under a command structure. This entire political extravaganza will crumble. Global politics cannot be handled as if it were sheer business. The manner in which Trump signs order after order in the presence of the media, and keeps his mind on other things, demonstrates that the USA will soon lose serious governance. The oligarchs will desert him if the gains are not commensurate. He would soon lose qualified bureaucrats on the pretext he is fighting the deep-state. Under Elon Musk and the newly established DOGE (department of government ethics), power will shift to a small group of oligarchs. Trump will without doubt lose control; he is a tired and confused septuagenarian. Trump is already looking fatigued and often sounds incoherent. He is fuzzy, repeats himself, and is ambiguous about his ideas. There is speculation that his health can displace him. The instability can have far-reaching ripple effects around the world.
China will, perhaps, deal USA it toughest blow. That trade war is on and it was the US started it with tariffs with harsh measures. China retaliated against US tariffs by imposing counter tariffs by imposing an additional 10% ad valorem duty on imports from China. China announced tariff measures targeting specific American products, with tariffs ranging from 10% to 25% ad valorem. These tariffs, which took effect on February 10, 2025, impact products such as coal, crude oil, liquefied natural gas, agricultural machinery, and large-engine vehicles. The USA will confront irreversible economic punishment. The US imposed tariffs on Chinese goods to address concerns over intellectual property theft, forced technology transfer, and trade imbalances. China has responded by imposing its own tariffs on US goods, leading to a tit-for-tat trade war. The impact of these tariffs is being felt by businesses and consumers on both sides, with increased costs and reduced trade volumes. The situation remains fluid, with further negotiations possible to mitigate the effects of these tariffs. Clearly China has the upper hand in this bitter war. Trump sought to patch up his blunders with made desperate calls to the Chinese President who refused to even take his calls.
With all the prevailing antagonism against the USA, Trump will have to climb down from his high horses. Trump threatened BRICS. Donald Trump has been quite vocal about his stance on BRICS nations, particularly regarding their efforts to reduce the US dollar’s dominance in global trade. He has threatened to impose 100% tariffs on BRICS countries if they pursue de-dollarization efforts.
He had warned that if BRICS nations want to proceed with de-dollarization, the US will respond with tariffs. The BRICS nations, which include Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, and India, have been working towards reducing their dependence on the US dollar in global trade. They’ve been exploring alternative currencies and payment systems, which has led to tensions with the US.
BRICS has large and rapidly growing economies with a combined GDP of over $16 trillion.Each BRICS country has a unique economic profile, with strengths in industries
BRICS countries are home to numerous innovation hubs. Moreover, BRICS countries have over 3.2 billion people and a growing middle class who drive the engines of consumer demand and economic growth. They are strategically located, with access to key markets, resources, and trade routes and are increasingly influential in global governance, with membership in organizations like the G20, WTO, and IMF. With potential to enhance South-South cooperation, BRICS can open up partnerships among emerging economies. BRICS can dismiss the idea, but his dream is just that. A dream.
On the Ukraine front, Trump knows that Putin is a tough nut to crack. Russia has prevailed both on the battle field as well as diplomatically. Zelensky has to fend for himself simply because he is an illegitimate President. His own people barely trust him. EU countries will scream and shout but will not pay out and make the needed sacrifices. Trump sees greater benefit in dumping Zelensky who he has referred to as acutely corrupt, and a country on the brink. The skeletons are tumbling out of the cupboard.
These are challenging times and a new future is unfolding. The era of old-style colonialism could face demise if they continue undeterred. The new alliances that evolve should revitalize and remodel the UN and multilateral agencies so they neutralize the US as the hegemon. Global governance must discard and convert from the current western-dominated pattern to one which is universal and collective in their truest sense.
Ranjan Solomon is a political commentator
27 February 2025
Source: countercurrents.org