Trump II and the World / Politique étrangère, Vol. 90, No. 3, 2025

Does Trumpism exist? And if so, how can its ideology be characterized, given the myriad currents underpinning it—from populism and the Christian Right to paleolibertarianism and technolibertarianism? Does it embody a genuine worldview that informs its diplomatic actions? An obsessive drive to overturn long-standing practices, alliances, and commitments deemed “detrimental” to American interests, coupled with a fixation on transactional, one-off deals, appears to serve as its de facto strategy—hence the widespread weakening of allied ties. Observers are equally at a loss to discern an economic strategy, and above all reluctant to anticipate the possible outcomes of its contradictory maneuvers.

Faced with the Trump tornado and the havoc it is wreaking on the Old Continent, European nations seem hesitant: How will they ensure their security going forward—and against whom, and with what means—if the United States confirms even a partial withdrawal of military support? How should Europeans go about devising a comprehensive security strategy? How can their concrete defense needs be identified? Should Europeans turn a blind eye, resign themselves to the situation, or rally their forces to change it—and at what economic and political cost?
European interests extend beyond the continent itself. For this quarter, Politique étrangère also turns its attention to the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region, the main stage for the economic tug-of-war between China and the US. It also examines the misfortune that has befallen Haiti—a situation in which France played no small part, yet it remains one of the few countries actively concerned about Haiti’s plight.
This issue is available in French only: Trump II et le monde
TRUMP II AND THE WORLD
Trump II: The Clash of Ideologies, by Laurence Nardon
The Geopolitics of the Second Trump Administration, by Alix Frangeul-Alves and Martin Quencez
Donald Trump’s Economic Nationalism, by Norbert Gaillard
Trump II and Asia: The Wind is Picking Up..., by Marc Julienne
The Second Trump Administration and the Middle East, by Rym Momtaz
DOES EUROPE HAVE THE MEANS TO DEFEND ITSELF?
The Defense of Europe: A New Crisis of Principles, by Olivier Schmitt
Europe Uncovered?, by Élie Tenenbaum and Guillaume Garnier
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Turkey-PKK: Forty Years, All for Nothing?, by Adel Bakawan
Iraqi Shiites: Religious and Strategic Drivers of Iranian Influence, by Alain Monnier
BAROMETERS
Jihadism: North African Combatants in the Syrian-Iraqi Zone, by Djallil Lounnas
The Challenges Facing Nigerian Oil in the Niger Delta, by Marc-Antoine Pérouse de Montclos
Value Chains and Investments in Asia, by Paul Salez
REFLECTIONS
Iran’s Nuclear Program: Evaluation Methods and Difficulties, by Cyril Gelibter
Haiti 1825–2025: The Geopolitics of Debt, by Jean Marie Théodat
BOOK REVIEWS
Editor: Marc Hecker
Multinationales. Une histoire du monde contemporain, by Olivier Petitjean and Ivan du Roy (eds.), by Vincent Vicard
232 pages. 23 euros.
September 9th, 2025.
Diffusion : Pollen/Dif'Pop.
Subscription: Armand Colin.
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Trump II and the World / Politique étrangère, Vol. 90, No. 3, 2025
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Discover all our analysesTrump II: The Clash of Ideologies
The second Trump administration brings together a number of very different, even opposing, ideologies: far-right populism, the reactionary Christian right, paleolibertarianism, and technolibertarianism. The most visible measures taken since Donald Trump's return to the White House have been populist in nature, with the president's authority strengthened, checks and balances weakened, a form of identity politics embraced, and economic nationalism implemented.
Europe Uncovered?
As Russia continues to threaten Europe, the Trump administration is making no secret of its desire to withdraw—at least partially—from the defense of the Old
Continent in order to focus on strategic competition with China. It is thus putting pressure on its European allies to increase their investment in the military sector. The NATO Summit in The Hague in June 2025 resulted in ambitious commitments by member states to increase their defense spending.
Trump II and Asia: The Wind is Picking Up…
The Indo-Pacific is a priority for the second Trump administration, which sees China as the United States' principal rival. However, Donald Trump began his second term in a rather disconcerting fashion by taking a harder line with Washington's traditional partners. He then provoked hostilities with Beijing, sparking a trade war even more intense than during his first term. The Chinese authorities have no intention of taking it lying down.
The "Europe of Internal Security": An Unknown Quantity - Politique étrangère, Vol. 90, No. 2, Summer 2025
The new European Internal Security Strategy, unveiled by the European Commission in April 2025, provides an opportunity to shine a light on a little-known policy. To mitigate the problems created by freedom of movement, substantial additions have been made to European internal security policy over the last few years. The European Union is constantly striving to become stronger in order to combat crime, terrorism, illegal immigration, and hybrid threats more effectively.