Nations are either anxiously or eagerly awaiting Donald Trump's return to the American presidency. His second reign promises, according to the "doom and gloom" portrayal of his new administration, to end the old-world order and bring about a new global hegemony. In trouncing his Democratic rival Kamala Harris to win the title of 47th president, Trump is bent on flaunting his strongman credentials, particularly in his determination to overhaul Washington, breaking a century of presidential precedents.
For the rest of the world, it may not be business as usual. A new twist looms. Firstly, Trump insists on dismantling the historic American exceptionalism of ruling, policing, intervening in, and bending the world to its will. Trump intends to replace the American political class, deep state, and military-industrial complex with his demagoguery, the Republican far right, and his group of tech billionaire "bros". Secondly, Trump, regardless of bluster and dubious character, professes to end multilateralism, exemplified in his first presidency by abandoning the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Paris Climate Agreement. The world is to be rebalanced into a multipolar collaboration where earning a "fair shot" depends on your "subservience" to Trump.
For now, the 68 million anti-Trump American voters fear his retribution for dragging him into criminal indictments and convictions. Which is fine with the rest of the world because in previous "normal" presidencies, any nation resisting the American power trifecta was dealt with trade sanctions, media reprobation or military action. Despite his flaws, the world, especially the Middle East, still craves for a Trump antidote that could end conflicts and flashpoints stemming from American meddling in foreign governments and hostilities. An immediate remedy: restoring relations with Russia and ending the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which greatly appeals to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump's first presidency pivoted on the "America First" protectionist trade and isolationist policies, including a much-resisted Muslim ban and regular threats to abandon the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. At the same time, he cosied up to North Korea and the Taliban in sensational summits that resulted in mixed results. Trump brokered talks between Israel and its Arab neighbours, establishing diplomatic ties that somehow skirted the goal of stopping the Israeli genocide of Palestinians. He soured ties with (Chinese President) Xi Jinping, whom Trump ironically admires, precipitating a trade war of tariffs on Chinese exports to the US. China resents the American shielding of Taiwan, as well as the US Congress's quarrel over TikTok's influence on American audiences.
Squeezed in between, Malaysia gingerly plays its bit part in this high-stakes game, maintaining pragmatic partnerships with all three superpowers. The global jitters with Trump mean nations have to prime themselves to learn how to "play ball": what's "on" today may be "off" tomorrow. It's not that difficult: Trump may be unpredictable but still susceptible to flattery. Ask Putin, Xi, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and even Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who astutely and expediently became Trump "whisperers".