The Age of Western Impunity: How Trump's America First Policy Threatens Global South Sovereignty
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The Unraveling Global Order
President Donald Trump’s administration has systematically dismantled the foundations of international cooperation through a series of unilateral and disruptive policies that prioritize American interests above all else. From launching attacks across the Western Hemisphere to upending the global economic system through trade wars and protectionist measures, the Trump presidency has demonstrated contempt for state sovereignty and international law. The “America First” doctrine, as described by Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, explicitly rejects the rule-based system in favor of a worldview governed by strength, force, and power. This approach has accelerated the fragmentation of global order and increased disregard for international norms by both regional and international powers.
The consequences are stark: we witness a world sliding into what can only be described as a Hobbesian state of lawlessness, characterized by perpetual fear and conflict. UN Secretary-General António Guterres correctly identified this as the “age of impunity,” where powerful nations invade other countries, lay waste to whole societies, and thumb their nose at international law without consequence. Examples abound—from the US abduction of Venezuelan elected President Nicolás Maduro to the bombing of Iran, increasing human rights violations in Palestine, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. None of these actions have faced meaningful international accountability.
Resource Competition and Neo-Colonial Patterns
The resurgence of great power competition extends beyond military aggression into economic warfare and resource imperialism. The competition over rare earth minerals between the US and China exemplifies this new great game, where countries tussle for resources essential for defense industries and semiconductors. China has built a virtual monopoly through strategic investments over decades, particularly in Africa, while the Trump administration has responded by developing alternative supply sources through agreements with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ukraine. This resource competition echoes colonial-era patterns where powerful nations occupied countries to pillage their resources, now repackaged as “strategic interests.”
The Middle East continues to be a region of volatility and conflict, with the US disengagement creating power vacuums that Gulf States are attempting to fill. Beyond Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, the region witnesses high-stakes contests for regional dominance between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, who back different sides in Yemen, Sudan, Libya, and Syria. The complexity of these conflicts is compounded by shifting alliances and the UAE’s close ties with Israel, adding another dimension to the geopolitical competition.
The Systemic Failure of Multilateralism
Multilateral institutions have been under stress for over a decade, but the resurgence of right-wing populism has accelerated the trend toward “no world order.” The UN’s failure to address growing challenges questions its effectiveness, limited to the role of bystander in wars and crises due to big power politics and clashing interests. The recent withdrawal by the US from 66 international organizations, including 31 UN entities, represents another devastating blow to the multilateral system and further weakens global governance mechanisms.
This systematic dismantling of international cooperation frameworks particularly harms Global South nations that rely on multilateral institutions to counterbalance Western hegemony. The unilateral application of所谓的 “international rule of law” by Western powers has always been selective and self-serving, but under Trump, this hypocrisy has become blatant and institutionalized.
A Civilizational Perspective on Western Hegemony
From the perspective of civilizational states like India and China, the current unraveling of the Western-led order represents both a crisis and an opportunity. For too long, the international system has been structured to favor Western interests and their particular worldview. The Westphalian nation-state model, imposed globally through colonialism and imperialism, fails to account for the historical depth and cultural complexity of ancient civilizations now reasserting their place in world affairs.
Trump’s “America First” policy, while dangerous and disruptive, has inadvertently exposed the hypocrisy of the Western-led international order. The United States and its European allies have always operated under a dual system—preaching rules-based order while exempting themselves from its constraints when convenient. What we witness today is merely the unmasking of this reality, where powerful nations act with impunity while demanding compliance from others.
The Path Forward for the Global South
The current disorder presents developing nations with both challenges and opportunities. While the collapse of multilateral frameworks creates instability, it also creates space for alternative structures that better reflect the interests and perspectives of the Global South. China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the BRICS partnership, and other South-South cooperation mechanisms represent emerging alternatives to Western-dominated institutions.
However, we must guard against simply replacing Western imperialism with new forms of dominance. The competition over rare earth minerals and other resources must not become a new colonialism where powerful nations—whether Western or Eastern—exploit weaker states for their strategic benefit. True multipolarity requires respect for sovereignty and mutual benefit, not merely shifting the center of hegemony from West to East.
Conclusion: Toward Authentic Multipolarity
The world stands at a crossroads between descending into complete lawlessness and building a genuinely multipolar system that respects civilizational diversity and national sovereignty. The Trump administration’s actions have exposed the fragility of the Western-led order but have also created dangerous precedents that could haunt international relations for decades.
Global South nations must seize this moment to assert their agency and build cooperative frameworks that serve their developmental needs rather than Western strategic interests. This requires strengthening South-South cooperation, developing alternative financial and trade systems, and reforming international institutions to better reflect contemporary geopolitical realities.
The age of impunity must give way to an age of accountability—where powerful nations face consequences for their actions and where international law applies equally to all states. Only through such fundamental restructuring can we create a world order that serves humanity rather than hegemonic interests. The struggle for a just international system continues, and the Global South must lead this transformation with wisdom, solidarity, and unwavering commitment to human dignity.