Donald Trump is telling the world that only one country leads it

No arguments and no alternatives. All other nations must fall in line.

- Lin Suling

As national leaders and global captains of industry gathered at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos over the past week to discuss the most pressing issues facing the world, the subject of most conversations along hallways and open dialogues was a man who was not even there.

Instead Mr Donald J. Trump was off to a thumping start to his presidency across the Atlantic, signing a slew of executive orders, overturning his predecessor's policies and fronting press interviews. He had not a moment to lose.

His strong electoral mandate spurred him to take some of the most controversial moves in recent history - from proclaiming a state of emergency at southern US borders to halting the green new deal, seeking to end birthright citizenship rights, and pardoning the insurrectionists involved in the Jan 6, 2021 storming of the US Capitol.

Over the past week, his biggest influence has been global, as he positions the US as the arbiter of conflict. He played a critical role in breaking the stalemate in the Middle East and brokering a hostage return and ceasefire, and threatened sanctions and tariffs on Russia unless President Vladimir Putin ends the Ukraine war.

And as his presidency gathers momentum, he has placed regional organisations in his cross hairs, calling on Opec to reduce oil prices and Nato countries to spend 5 per cent of their GDP on defence in his address to the WEF on Jan 23.