Donald Trump’s first foreign visit reminds the world that it needs leadership.
When Michael Jordan retired for the first time from the NBA, the league had a problem. Sure, Kobe and other stars were still in their prime, but there was no replacement for Michael Jordan. People who had no great connection to basketball would watch games and buy merchandise. The entire city of Chicago was overjoyed by the success of the Bulls and their biggest star. When Jordan left the game, viewership dropped and there was much less excitement for the sport.
Donald Trump is finishing up his first overseas trip. His reception in three three Gulf states was out of this world. From fighter plane escorts to events and activities designed to impress the US president, the three Arab leaders did not hold back. Trump, for his part, led a delegation that signed trillions of dollars of deals for planes, weapons systems, advanced chips, and more. In every way, it was a win for the US economy and the Gulf countries.
It is always very hard to perform a precise dissection to know how much of the pomp and pageantry was for Trump the individual and how much was for the office of the president of the United States. Trump’s reception in Saudi Arabia was miles ahead of a similar reception for his predecessor just a few years back. And while the Gulf potentates seemed to be on very friendly personal terms with the US president, the joy and enthusiasm in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE represent more. These leaders, like much of the world, have been looking for strong world leadership, and Donald Trump came to their countries to deliver it.
Look at how Trump addressed Iran and Syria. He told the former that they cannot have a nuclear weapon and that they must give up their support for terror. Only someone who has the means to prevent them from going against his will can make such demands. And with Syria, he told al-Julani that he needs to clean up his country and make peace with Israel if he wants to move forward with the US. One may or may not agree with the US dictating terms, but Donald Trump left no doubt: play by my rules and you will do well. Cross me, and you will pay. If you could find General Suleimani’s ear, you could ask him if he is serious.
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While some might claim that the world does not want or need an American policeman, the bottom line is that for eighty years, the world has gotten used to and benefited from US global power projection and leadership. Half of the aircraft carriers in the world today fly an American flag; one-third of the decommissioned carriers plied the world’s oceans for the US Navy. Since the end of World War 2, the US has not only worried about its own affairs but has also played a major role in the way the world is run. Part of it has been for self-protection: overt and clandestine actions were often directed at weakening America’s enemies or preventing activities that worked against American interests. The other part has been to hold together a world order that favors American military and economic power. The US patrols the worlds’ shipping lanes; not since the British of yore has any country done the same. And no other country today can or is interested in doing the same. One should remember that all of the bombing in Yemen was to guarantee free movement of shipping into and out of the Suez Canal.
The world needs a leader, just as a ship needs a captain and a plane requires a pilot. Actually, they could fly our commercial flights with either no pilot or just one. But people refuse: they want at least two people up in the cockpit should one become incapacitated. The world needs to know who’s in charge and who’s calling the shots. The palpable enthusiasm for Donald Trump in the desert kingdoms reflected joy that the US is once again taking its position of leadership. China’s concerns are food and energy, not world policing. Russia is too weak to take such a mantle from the US. When allies of the US see the president taking a strong stand on the world stage, they feel that they have an ally who has their back. After four years of a clueless Biden administration, Trump’s very muscular US posture is a relief for them. The disastrous exit from Afghanistan, container ships being bombed by the Houthis, and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza were signs of the US having left the world stage.
While allies may be relieved that the US has ended its retreat from world affairs, less friendly nations need to take stock of their options. Do they play ball with the US? Do they attack US interests and risk a devastating response? China, India, England and others came pretty quickly to renegotiate arrangements after Trump raised US tariffs significantly on their products. They did not try to play a very long trade war; rather, they understood that by dancing to the president’s violin they would come out best. Donald Trump has said that he wants other countries—including pariahs like Syria and Iran—to succeed. He is not trying to destroy them or weaken them economically. He just wants them to play by the US’ rules.
It was said that when the Berlin Wall was built, John Kennedy was relieved. He did not want people stuck in the Soviet hellhole, but he understood that a wall would prevent a war. Prior to the Wall, American and Soviet tanks came face to face in Berlin. They had to be walked back until the situation was defused. Kennedy wanted freedom for everybody, but he wanted stability and in a perverse way, the Berlin Wall provided the same until it came crashing down.
When countries,both friends and foes, know where the US is holding, they know how to take care of their own affairs. No other country in the world has the military might, economic power, and will to play the role that the US can play. Look at President Trump doing nearly $4 trillion in business in a week of hectic travel. Not even the Chinese could pull that one off.
With sword dances in the desert, the US is back on the world stage.
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