The Donald Trump administration’s unprecedented withdrawal from multilateral institutions and agreements that have been built through strenuous negotiations and dialogue is destabilising the world order (Editorial, “Deal in danger”, May 13.) The effects are impacting today’s interconnected world, ever more porous to international political and economic developments. In the case of Iran, Mr. Trump’s actions are antithetical to the expected behaviour of a statesman. This would boost the demands for an alternative to the dollar-based economic and trade mechanisms which is free from American excesses. In the quest to satisfy his domestic base, Mr. Trump is compromising the American position in the global order. In a scenario where U.S. dominance is being challenged by rising powers such as China, it would be prudent for the Trump administration to think and then act.
Paul Jom,
New Delhi