In brief
President Trump's approach to foreign relations signals a departure from traditional positive-sum dynamics in international relations
What is President Trump up to? This is arguably the most pivotal question in global politics today, and possibly the hardest to decipher. The former president’s rhetoric and actions suggest a central theme: the world operates as a zero-sum game. In this framework, the one who invests the most ultimately ends up losing, while those who extract the most gain victory.On the surface, this perspective might seem like just a stylistic difference in negotiation. However, the foundation of the post-World War II international order is rooted in the belief that the world can be a positive-sum game — a network of interconnected systems that yield benefits for all participants, regardless of unequal distribution of costs and rewards.This positive-sum mindset has been fundamental in creating international trade, law, and alliances that have generated decades of prosperity and peace and underpinned democracy itself. Historically, the United States has played a significant role in establishing and supporting this system. Yet, under Trump's leadership, a starkly different approach is unfolding.Since the 1980s, Trump's communications and choices have indicated a disregard for these positive dynamics. While others perceive collaborative agreements as beneficial for all, he tends to view interactions strictly in terms of zero-sum outcomes, where one party's gain equates to another's loss. During his ongoing second term, this perspective appears to be significantly shaping his foreign policy decisions.
