Trump’s Authoritarian Diplomacy

Jalal Khoshchehreh, in an interview with the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations’ website, stated that Donald Trump’s approach to the Ukraine crisis is a sign of “the illusion of returning to the bipolar order of the Cold War.” He believes that “the U.S. President, with an authoritarian view and relying on the economic and military superiority of the United States, is trying to dictate an imposed peace not only to Ukraine but also to Europe and even Russia.”

Khoshchehreh says: “Trump imagines that with the surrender model, where the superior power imposes conditions on others, he can engineer global equations.” This analyst referred to historical examples, saying: “When the Soviet army attacked Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Poland, the West was forced to accept this situation. But today’s world is no longer that bipolar world. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the emergence of new actors like China and West Asian countries have made the equations more complex.” This expert emphasizes that “America’s unilateral efforts to impose peace, as seen in the Alaska summit or the Washington meetings, will face resistance from Europe and even Putin.” In Khoshchehreh’s view, this authoritarian diplomacy “cannot lead to lasting peace.”

Referring to Europe’s historical role as an architect of global diplomacy, Khoshchehreh believes that Europe, contrary to Trump’s perception, cannot merely play the role of America’s assistant. He says: “Europe, especially Britain and France, with their long history in diplomacy, will not accept being marginalized.” According to the international affairs analyst, “Although Europe has been under American influence in many cases since the Cold War and even after the formation of the European Union, it will now resist an imposed peace that jeopardizes Ukraine’s territorial integrity or leads to a clear Russian victory.”

Khoshchehreh points to the London meeting and Europe’s efforts to reduce its dependence on America, adding: “Europeans, by increasing defense budgets and proposing ideas like nuclear weapons sharing, have shown that they are seeking strategic independence from America.” He believes that Britain, as the “father of global diplomacy,” and France, with its Gaullist legacy, are unlikely to submit to American hegemony and Trump’s authoritarian diplomacy. This analyst emphasizes that “Europe, especially in the Ukraine crisis, is trying to play a more active role and avoid being humiliated in peace negotiations.”

Complex Equations of Ukraine: Peace or Surrender?

According to Khoshchehreh, the Ukraine crisis, beyond a regional conflict, is an arena for the confrontation of major powers. This expert believes that “Trump’s campaign promises to end the war in a few days, a few weeks, or even a month or two are more of a show than reality.” Khoshchehreh says: “Trump is seeking the Nobel Peace Prize, but this naive view of geopolitics, where he thinks he can impose peace by relying on military and economic power, is not compatible with the realities of today’s world.”

He points to the previous diplomatic failures of Trump’s second administration, such as unimplemented agreements in Lebanon and West Asia, to failures in managing crises in Africa and Asia, and specifically the ongoing massacre in Gaza, saying: “Lasting peace requires continuous diplomacy and international consensus, not unilateral imposition.” The international affairs analyst warns that “America’s efforts to reach an agreement with Russia at the expense of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and the humiliation of Europe will not only not lead to peace but could also escalate tensions.” Khoshchehreh points to “the role of regional actors like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which, with their pragmatic diplomacy, have refused to accept America’s imposed policies and Trump’s authoritarian diplomacy, just as Europe will ultimately not submit to Washington’s dictates for ending the war in Ukraine in favor of U.S. interests and Trump’s ill-considered goals.”

Transatlantic Relations and the Future of European Security

Khoshchehreh sees U.S.-Europe relations as the backbone of the transatlantic order but believes that Trump’s unilateral approach has endangered this relationship. Referring to the 1.2 trillion euro trade volume between the U.S. and Europe in 2022, he emphasizes that Europe is America’s largest trading partner and a key market for companies such as Apple, Google, and Tesla.

According to this expert, “Europe, despite its security dependence on NATO, has significant economic and diplomatic power and cannot be marginalized.” Khoshchehreh believes that “although  America’s efforts to create a rift between the eastern and western members of the European Union were somewhat successful, the European Union has maintained its cohesion.” He notes that “if Trump continues his authoritarian policies, Europe may move towards greater security independence, something that could fundamentally change the global order.” In conclusion, Khoshchehreh states that “Trump’s deal-oriented and authoritarian diplomacy, disregarding the complexities of a multipolar world, is doomed to failure, and lasting peace in Ukraine will only be possible through cooperation with Europe and respect for international law.”