Another Yalta Moment for a New Order

Despite his tough talk, the actions taken by Trump show a method in his idiosyncrasies. India can learn from China and Russia in facing his desultory diplomacy with firmness

- M K BHADRAKUMAR

Based on interactions with American national security elites at the annual Aspen Security Forum in Colorado, Politico compiled a report six months into Donald Trump's second presidency last weekend. The digital newspaper reported the Aspen delegates "accepted that this president has irrevocably upended the global order... former and current US and foreign officials, business leaders and analysts acknowledged publicly and privately that the Trump administration has dealt a lasting blow to much of the post-World War II consensus around free trade and long-term cooperation".

Indeed, isn't this how history rolls on—when a statesman appears out of nowhere with a sledgehammer and a bold agenda to break the crust? The demolition is painful to watch and the outcome difficult to predict, which is reflected in the industrial-scale demonization of Trump by the self-styled 'liberal globalists'. Trump has smashed not only "the norms and conventions that governed US trade relations, use of military force and engagement with stalwart partners and alliances", as Politico characterized it, but also rolled back the agencies entrusted with foreign policy tasks including USAID, CIA, Pentagon and the state department.

Indian foreign policy elites seek solace that Trump's policies will not have a long shelf life and could be easily reversed once he leaves office. However, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice admitted at the closing panel of the Colorado summit, in her capacity as co-chair of the Aspen Strategy Group, "We have to recognize that we're probably not going back to exactly that system".