The ‘Masquerade Ball’ in International Politics Is Over

U.S. President Donald Trump’s style of politics and rhetoric is causing the international political scene to experience whirlwinds and turbulence more severe than anything experienced during his first term. China seems to be the country most well-situated against Trump’s warnings, intimidating style and threatening rhetoric. Among developed and emerging economies outside of NATO, China stands out as the economy with the least relative dependence on the U.S. and the greatest room for maneuvering in many sectors in the name of “strategic autonomy.” But for countries that are directly or implicitly part of NATO, or those partnered in some way with the U.S., life is harder. With all that said, an important outcome of President Trump’s style lies at the center of this difficult picture: the end of the “masquerade ball” in international politics.

For the past 25 years leading up to Trump’s second term — his first term included — American administrations and the Washington political elite have conducted politics with an attitude that suggested they were sensitive to internationally accepted norms and values. They appeared to uphold democracy, human rights, international justice, the prevention of double standards in international politics and absolute respect for countries’ U.N.-sanctioned territorial and border rights. Starting with his second term, President Trump is now putting an end to this “masquerade ball,” doing away with the mask — the gilding of which has long since worn off and whose cracks have only become more glaring. He is no longer burdened by any concern to appear benevolent, even if just for show, and has embraced an unfiltered, “say-what-you-think” approach to politics. We’re now dealing with a U.S. administration that doesn’t concern itself with whether its actions will adhere to international rules and customs, as we’ve seen in the recent statements regarding Gaza.

We are astonished by this reckless attitude that couldn’t care less whether additional tariffs, economic sanctions and embargoes are antithetical to international rules and the entrenched customs of global trade, or whether the international justice system and even the most indisputable economic, commercial and political rights of countries are being trampled. They increasingly prioritize being a global feudal lord instead of a superpower, and view all sorts of economic, commercial, political and military operations as permissible, while entirely overlooking the harm they will cause to the world and themselves. It’s a pity that the multilateral international system and the global and regional economic, commercial, political and military organizations that represent it are all but immobile against this pattern of “Wild West” behavior, seemingly incapable of mustering up any strong response. Instead of international rules, we’re galloping at full tilt toward a place where the “law of the jungle” takes hold of the entire global system.

The Emerging-7 economies — as well as the rest of the world’s top 40 developed and emerging economies — must take serious action to strengthen their immune systems, fortify their endurance and resilience, increase maneuvering space for action, and diversify alternative solutions against the earthquake of rhetoric and behavioral codes that are shaking the global economic and political system. All institutions of the top 40 economies must coordinate to find solutions and boost various economic and commercial collaborations for the difficult period ahead. At this point, it should come as a surprise to no one that efforts to strengthen cooperation among countries of the Global South — nations in Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa — are picking up speed. As for Turkey, the country stands among those fortunate enough to be able to create completely new cooperation opportunities for itself, thanks to the decisive, visionary leadership and will of our President Recep Erdogan.