As Donald Trump considers a second presidential run, the whole globe waits anxiously. Both his friends and his enemies are emboldened by his foreign policy pledges. Can the globe weather the stormy seas that lie ahead, or will his return mark the beginning of a more isolationist age in the United States?
New Hampshire is experiencing an anxious atmosphere. At a rowdy rally, former president Donald Trump makes his point. He speaks in a comforting, fuzzy manner about a world gone crazy, and he is the only one who can fix it. Uncertainty, however, is a universally pervasive feeling.
Trump has broken with tradition significantly with his foreign policy statements. With friends called into doubt and enemies placated, "America First" has a new, harsher connotation. All the way from Berlin to Tokyo, his position on Iran, Ukraine, and China makes people cringe.
Europe, which has been an important ally of the United States for a long time, is hurting by Trump's statements. European politicians rush to make amends after being accused of defense freeloading; yet, they are uncertain whether their attempts to reach out will be welcomed with tariffs or handshakes.
A lot of people in Asia are worried. Security assurances from South Korea and Japan are being called into doubt by Trump's transactional attitude to partnerships. Stability that has been worked so hard is threatened by the possibility of US disengagement from the area.
A sense of foreboding surrounds the situation in Ukraine. Many are surprised by Trump's assurances of a quick conclusion, especially in Kyiv. Fears of a secret bargain that gives up Ukrainian sovereignty for a temporary peace are fueled by memories of his intimate ties with Putin.
The chance of Trump's return has not incited fear in every region of the globe. A few people, tired of globalization's ills, saw a chance for improvement. A less interventionist America is a source of cautious optimism for African and emerging world leaders.
But Trump's every move is shrouded in controversy. Democracy is under threat both domestically and internationally due to accusations of corruption and authoritarian tendencies. Is it safe to put the world's faith in a leader who has such a checkered past to navigate unknown seas?
The thought of a Trump administration in its second iteration is terrifying to many. They can't help but fantasize about the possibility of trade wars, diplomatic failures, and a return to instability. The globe has been burnt before; is it ready to face another Trumpian inferno?