Trump 2.0 and Global Geopolitical Challenges, 2025–2026

Rebalancing Relations among the United States, Europe, and Asia

Abstract

This article analyzes how anti-globalization nationalist forces are gaining political strength in many countries, such as the United States and Russia. This country starts the Ukraine war in 2022 to regain its strategic capacity. The essay is organized around eight thematic areas. It begins, as the first aspect, with anti-globalization nationalism. The second section is dedicated to how the United States, with Donald Trump returning to the presidency for a second term on January 20, 2025, pushes for a trade war with almost every country in the world, regardless of whether they are strategic allies or not. Thirdly, the material basis of the balances between countries is taken into account, which is measured through their economic power, demographics, and geopolitics. As a fourth topic, it follows that the self-perception of the United States is in decline, and the America First postulate and its global consequences are discussed. Fifthly, the development of the war in Ukraine after four years of fighting is analyzed, where Russia, leading an Eastern Pole in global geopolitics, despite its superiority, fails to achieve victory. The Western Pole (Europe and the United States), despite supporting Ukraine, also lacks sufficient capacity to sustain a prolonged conflict. In the sixth section, there is an assessment of nuclear weapons possession by nine countries, which is a key indicator of their respective power. Seventh, the study focuses on the “changing geopolitics,” where strategic balances between countries are shifting, also considering the increase in tensions in the Middle East. As the eighth point, the rise of power in Asian countries, mainly China and India, is mentioned, being the countries with the highest economic growth worldwide. In the conclusions, the geopolitical moment of great crisis is highlighted due to the development of the conflict in Gaza and the outbreak of war between the United States, Israel, and Iran during the first half of 2026.