A diplomatic DICHOTOMY

As Trump's second term is loaded with steep protectionism alongside growing US-China tensions, India has a tough balancing task at hand—deepening trade ties with the US while tackling tariffs and geopolitical realignments

- DIPANKAR DEY

Since January 20, 2025, after Donald Trump became the president of the world's largest economy for the second term, his executive orders and steep increase in import tariffs, to protect America's business interests, have created major disruptions in the international trade and political climate across the globe including India.

Trump's administration is rapidly reshaping the US government policies and the impact of his decisions is being felt globally.

Trump has made it clear that he wants overseas spending to be closely aligned with his "America First" approach.

Among the numerous executive orders signed by the US President, three orders, in addition to the order on forced deportation of illegal migrants, namely, US exit from global cooperation on health, climate change agreement and shut down of US Agency for International Development (USAID) have attracted serious criticism, both at home and abroad, against the US administration.

Experts warn that Trump's dismantling of USAID raises the risk of m-pox (formerly known as 'monkey pox'), a global emergency.

Is the US ceding global influence to its rivals?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) highlighted the massive potential negative impact on public health and efforts to curb global warming due to President Trump's executive orders ending US membership of the WHO and its adherence to the Paris Climate Agreement.

The US was the largest single donor of the WHO, accounting for 18 per cent of the agency's budget in 2023.

Referring to the recent devastating and deadly massive wildfires that ripped through Los Angeles, the WMO spokesperson noted that the US had suffered the bulk of global economic losses from weather, climate and water-related hazards.

The Trump administration reportedly intends to merge the US government's main overseas aid agency—USAID with the state department.