The Trump administration announced a sweeping withdrawal from dozens of international organizations. This action included major United Nations bodies tied to climate science and reproductive health, framing the move as an extension of its “America First” doctrine.
The measure was received with rejection of institutions since it’s viewed as constraining U.S. sovereignty. Critics argue that the decision further erodes Washington’s role in shaping the global order. Yet, it aligns with Trump’s long-standing hostility toward multilateralism, free trade orthodoxy, and liberal internationalism.
Recent actions have underscored a sharper, more assertive dimension of this anti-globalist posture. The U.S. operation that removed Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and the administration’s renewed push to acquire Greenland signal an expansionist impulse. A renewed belief rooted in the American power that should dominate the Western Hemisphere, regardless of treaties or international law. In Venezuela, Washington has prioritized control over oil assets rather than a rapid democratic transition, allowing sanctioned oil to flow exclusively to U.S. refineries under government control.
Personalist Dictatorship
A man dressed as South American independence leader Simón Bolívar gestures among supporters of Colombian President Gustavo Petro
Trump has openly dismissed the binding force of international law, framing foreign policy decisions as guided by personal judgment and strategic instinct. This approach has revived long-standing accusations of U.S. imperialism, particularly in Latin America, where memories of past interventions remain potent. Analysts describe the current trajectory as unpredictable, highly personalized, and increasingly unconstrained by institutional checks. Some scholars are actively warning that U.S. foreign policy now resembles that of a personalist regime.
Allies have grown uneasy, with countries like Canada quietly reassessing their security assumptions and European leaders warning against a global shift toward “might makes right.” Meanwhile, rivals such as China and Russia appear to view Washington’s actions as confirmation that the liberal international order is giving way to a world defined by competing spheres of influence. As Trump presses forward, observers warn that this opportunistic imperialism could be a global precedent. It could destabilize alliances, embolden adversaries, and reshape global politics in ways that extend far beyond the United States.
Reference
Tharoor, I. (2026, January 8). Trump’s anti-globalism looks like old-school Yankee imperialism. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/01/09/trump-venezuela-greenland-imperialism/