A summary of Lawrence Wittner’s analysis detailing the rapid expansion of Donald Trump’s unilateral foreign policy during his second term:
Territorial Expansion & The "Donroe Doctrine":
Trump has proposed annexing or controlling multiple nations—including Greenland, Canada, Mexico, Panama, Gaza, Venezuela, and Cuba—while declaring absolute American dominance over the Western Hemisphere.
Dismantling Alliances & Military Surge:
Facing deep fractures with NATO, Trump proposed a record $1.5 trillion U.S. military budget (a 42% Pentagon increase), alongside an anticipated $200 billion supplement for the war with Iran.
Nuclear Ambitions:
Nuclear weapons spending has reached $98 billion for a new generation of armaments. Following the lapse of previous treaties, Trump has ordered the resumption of U.S. nuclear testing for the first time since 1992, maintaining sole authority to launch a nuclear strike.
Unilateral Warfare:
Bypassing Congress, the administration has executed strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, bombed Venezuela, blockaded Cuba, and engaged in a joint war with Israel against Iran, displacing 3.2 million people and causing global economic turmoil.
Crippling the United Nations:
The U.S. has withdrawn from key UN agencies (WHO, UNHRC, UNRWA, UNESCO) and withheld nearly $4 billion in mandated dues, pushing the UN toward imminent financial collapse.
The "Board of Peace":**
To bypass international law, Trump established a self-styled "Board of Peace" as a UN alternative. Appointing himself lifetime chair with absolute veto power, membership requires a $1 billion entry fee, consolidating global decision-making into a single, transactional entity.