MAGA-star Donald Trump is clearly on a mission to ‘Make America Great Again’ in his re-election campaign and the executive orders he issued as the 47th President of the US. Naturally, in his own way. Therefore, it could be fascinating to see how Trump defines “greatness” in his dictionary.

In reality, a nation can attain global leadership if it possesses the most advanced technology, the largest economy, and the most powerful military. Beyond that, though, a world leader must be prepared to put aside their own short-term interests in favour of a more long-term perspective. From backing NATO to establishing global organisations like the World Bank or providing funds for others, including the UN, American actions since 1945 frequently fit that template. And America truly became “the world’s indispensable nation.”

Republican administrations have historically slashed or otherwise reduced funding for UN agencies, such as those involved in peacekeeping, human rights, and refugees. Furthermore, it’s undeniable that Donald Trump is first and foremost a businessman. During his first term, Trump has been aggressively forceful in challenging the post-war spirit of cooperation with his “America First” credo, which has ominous echoes of the 1930s. The international accords and institutions established by his predecessors have been de-funded and abandoned by Trump one by one since the beginning of his first term, and apparently more intensely this time around. As a result, many allies might have begun to search for more trustworthy friends and partners.

Trump has seriously harmed NATO by frequently raising doubts about whether the US would honour its treaty obligation to support its allies — the cornerstone of any collective defence — unless they “pay their bills.”

Fossil fuel-friendly

Trump wants to impose significant tariffs on a number of countries. His economic outlook may be the driving force behind his pro-fossil-fuel-friendly posture and commendation for “drill, baby, drill.” But in the face of a worldwide environmental catastrophe, that may not be the best position for a nation that aspires to lead the world.

President Trump signed an executive order on his first day back in office that temporarily suspends all US foreign assistance programmes for 90 days while they are reviewed to see if they are in line with his policy objectives. These programmes support pro-democracy, health and disaster relief efforts across countries and regions. Every dollar spent, programme funded, and policy pursued by America under Trump must be supported by the answers to three straightforward questions, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio: “Does it make America safer? Does it make America stronger? Does it make America more prosperous?”

The legitimacy and authority of America’s strategic dominance have surely been undermined as a result of Trump’s increasingly isolationist foreign and trade policies and the evident nationalist overtones of “Make America Great Again.” Withdrawals from the Paris Climate Accord — once again — appear to be a glaring example of a loss of leadership. What’s more, coinciding with the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw from regional and international trade accords, China has stated that it is prepared to fill the void and take the lead on climate change. A few days prior to Trump’s inauguration, an article published in Science predicted the impact of Trump’s possible departure from WHO on American influence in world health. It claims that “the country would lose its influential voice at the World Health Assembly, an annual meeting of member states that elects the director-general, reviews and approves WHO’s budget, and sets policies on issues such as disease eradication, tobacco control, and vaccine equity.” Furthermore, many people think that it only just seals the deal if the real worry is that China will capture WHO.

Gaining a position as a world leader requires a lot of work and time. However, it can be lost quickly by bullying other nations instead of cooperating with them and gradually shifting the focus to short-term goals, especially economic agendas. America, undoubtedly, has supported the “rules-based order” for more than 70 years, serving as the world’s police force and moral bulwark, to quite some extent. However, that will not be the case now. And this might continue to be one of Trump’s lasting legacies in the American context. Regretfully.

The writer is Professor of Statistics, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata