The US should take heed – superpowers rarely fall overnight

The West is at an inflection point. The rise, fall and transformation of civilisations are often traced to the decisions of their leaders. US President Donald Trump’s policies and rhetoric are accelerating the unravelling of the Western world order, echoing the mistakes of past rulers whose unwise actions led to irreversible decline.

Trump’s approach is not an anomaly but an amplification of the Western tendency to pursue self-interest and raw power. His administration has openly discarded the mask of benevolence, embracing policies of xenophobia, isolationism and transactional diplomacy. These actions have eroded trust among allies, weakened international institutions and exposed the West’s moral and strategic vulnerabilities.

Trump’s tariffs, imposed even on America’s closest allies, have undermined the fundamentals of US and Western economic dominance. The safety of US bonds and currency – long considered unassailable – has been called into question, shaking global confidence. The tariffs are expected to stoke inflation and may trigger a recession.