President Trump’s first year marked continued global conflicts, trade wars, and controversial diplomatic approaches to Ukraine and the Middle East.
Unresolved Conflicts
The conflict in Ukraine remains unresolved despite mediation attempts and numerous meetings with both sides. In the Middle East, tensions persist with a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, but regular attacks on civilians continue. A high level of violence also persists in the West Bank, and the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah remains fragile.
Aggressive Trade Policies
President Trump continues his aggressive protectionist policies. After a brief pause in such actions, he announced that from February 1, he will impose additional 10% tariffs on goods from eight European countries unless they agree to cede Greenland to the United States. The new tariffs will target Denmark, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
Public Opinion
Trump’s actions may lead to further decline in support for his policies, both in the US and globally. A year after his inauguration, 58% of Poles critically view his foreign policy, especially toward Ukraine, Russia, and the EU, considering it unfavorable from Poland’s security perspective. A CNN/SSRS poll shows that 58% of American respondents also consider Trump’s first year in office a failure.
Gaza Controversy
Initially, Trump proposed to transform the Gaza Strip, devastated by Israeli military actions, into a “Middle Eastern Riviera.” In February 2025, after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he stated that the United States would take control of the Palestinian enclave. “We will be its owners and will be responsible for removing all unexploded ordnance and other weapons on its territory,” he announced.
Russia Relations
Although relations between Washington and Kyiv have been partially normalized in subsequent months, Moscow could count on significantly better treatment. Vladimir Putin was received with full honors during a Russia-US leaders’ summit in Anchorage, Alaska. A former US National Security Council official explained that this differing attitude toward Ukrainian President Zelenskiy and Putin stemmed from Trump’s enduring fascination with US-USSR rivalry and Cold War logic.
Trade Wars Impact
Many emotions, and even more chaos, have been caused in the last 12 months by trade wars. Guided by the belief that “tariffs serve to make America rich again,” he has transformed trade policy into a blunt economic tool. The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) think tank noted that this policy had significant consequences for five trade objectives: rebuilding US industry, reducing trade deficits, combating unfair trade practices, protecting national security, and increasing budget revenues.
Future Challenges
Moscow refuses to halt its offensive and attacks on Ukrainian civilian and infrastructure facilities and strongly opposes the presence of Western troops on Ukrainian territory as part of future security guarantees for Kyiv. Ukraine, in turn, rejects demands to cede parts of its territory to Russia and does not intend to stop fighting without obtaining such guarantees.
