Donald Trump came to power with grand promises of reshaping U.S. foreign policy. He claimed he could end the Russia-Ukraine war in one day, reach a nuclear deal with Iran within a week, and resolve the Palestinian issue by relocating Gazans and transforming the region into a real estate paradise. These bold declarations won him headlines, but as time passed, their emptiness became undeniable.
Trump repeatedly asserted that he would stop the war in Ukraine within 24 hours. Yet when pressed, he admitted that it was only possible through his personal “relationships.” No policy, no strategy—only illusion. Today, the war rages on, with the United States and NATO entrenched in a proxy conflict with Moscow, and Trump’s “solution” remains nothing but campaign rhetoric.
Regarding Iran, Trump unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018, pushing the region to the brink. Later, he suggested that he could negotiate a better deal quickly. However, even under the Biden administration, diplomacy has stalled, and there is no sign of a viable agreement. Trump’s approach only destabilized the region further while isolating Washington diplomatically.
On Palestine, Trump floated a plan to resettle the people of Gaza in neighboring countries like Egypt and Jordan, offering development in return. The proposal violated international law and was seen as a thinly veiled attempt at forced displacement. It failed to gain traction globally and sparked outrage across the Arab world.
His ties to the Persian Gulf monarchies are perhaps the most revealing. Trump’s visits to the region brought lavish receptions and billion-dollar arms deals. Yet investigative reports suggest that these relationships were deeply entangled with personal financial interests, particularly for the Trump family. From Saudi investments in Trump properties to Jared Kushner’s post-office fundings, it is evident that U.S. foreign policy was, to a worrying extent, privatized.
As much of the world—Africa, Latin America, and even parts of Europe—wakes up to the decline of U.S. unipolarity and explores alternatives like BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Persian Gulf states remain trapped in a Cold War mindset. They continue to rely on Washington’s militarized protection while turning a blind eye to changing global realities.
The time has come for these regimes to face the future with clarity. The illusion of American omnipotence is fading. True security and influence will only come through regional cooperation, strategic autonomy, and abandoning outdated dependencies.
Trump’s foreign policy legacy is not one of bold reform, but of inflated promises, missed opportunities, and deepened divisions. For the Global South, the lesson is clear: survival in the new world order requires independent thinking, not allegiance to fading empires.
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