Tariffs, Foreign Policy Chaos, and Territorial Ambitions

President Donald Trump has officially begun his second term as of January 20, causing waves internationally with his bold policy moves and controversial statements. In the first 100 days, his administration has introduced steep tariffs that affect numerous countries, including a staggering 145% on Chinese goods. In response, China has retaliated with its own set of tariffs on American exports, prompting concern from economic experts like Piero Cipollone of the European Central Bank who cautioned that these trade disputes could drastically impact global economic output, potentially causing a decline of up to 9%.

In February, the tension reached a peak during Trump's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House. Intended to be a diplomatic engagement leading to a minerals deal, the interaction quickly devolved into chaos after a reporter’s remark about Zelensky’s attire. Vice-President JD Vance chastised Zelensky for his perceived lack of gratitude for American assistance, leading to Trump concluding the encounter by telling Zelensky he was at a disadvantage. This incident resulted in Zelensky's swift ejection from the White House, leaving the planned press conference and signing ceremony unfulfilled.

Further complicating his foreign policy approach, Trump has shared ambitions regarding territorial claims, specifically referring to the annexation of Greenland and suggesting Canada become the "51st state" of the United States. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney noted that Trump frequently raises these topics in conversations, indicating a persistent interest. In response to Trump’s declarations about acquiring Greenland for strategic reasons, the island's new Prime Minister reiterated its status as an autonomous region that cannot be owned, expressing discontent over the "disrespectful" remarks from the Trump administration.