America's new age of empire dawns

US President Donald Trump has drawn a wave of criticism for his actions in Venezuela, violations of international law, disdain for longstanding norms, and threats against other countries - not least allies like Denmark and Canada.

- Joseph Stiglitz

A demonstrator wears a mask depicting US President Donald Trump during a protest on Jan 10 in Mexico City during a protest on Jan 10 in Mexico City against the US strike on Venezuela and the capture of its president. REUTERS

(REUTERS)

Around the world, there is a palpable sense of uncertainty and foreboding. But it should already be obvious that things will not end well, neither for the United States nor the rest of the world.

None of this comes as a surprise to many on the left. We still remember US president Dwight Eisenhower's valedictory warning about the industrial-military complex that had emerged from World War II. It was inevitable that a country whose military spending matched that of the rest of the world combined would eventually use its arms to try to dominate others.

To be sure, military interventions became increasingly unpopular following the American misadventures in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. But Mr Trump has never shown much concern for the will of the American people. Since he entered politics (and no doubt earlier), he has considered himself above the law, boasting that he could shoot someone on New York's Fifth Avenue without losing a vote. The Jan 6, 2021, insurrection at the US Capitol - whose anniversary we have just "celebrated" - showed that he was right. The 2024 election reinforced Mr Trump's hold on the Republican Party, ensuring that it will do nothing to hold him accountable.