Trump vs the New World Order

The League of Nations officially comes into existence after the First World War. Its Covenant, signed as part of the Treaty of Versailles on 28 June 1919, commits members to peaceful settlement of disputes and collective security.

Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev told the General Assembly he would cut Soviet forces by 500,000 and called for problems to be solved together through the UN. The Cold War was ending.

Nearly every nation signed up to one global climate framework, with national targets reviewed every five years.

Months into his first term, Trump said the deal was unfair to America and announced the US would withdraw.

A year later Trump told the General Assembly: "The future does not belong to globalists; it belongs to patriots," NPR reported. As in his 2018 address, he argued that governments should put their own countries first.

World leaders adopted a blueprint to reform global governance, including the Security Council and the global financial system. A year earlier Guterres had set out the goal of a modernised "UN 2.0".

Executive Order 14203 authorised sanctions on ICC officials after the court issued an arrest warrant for Israel's prime minister. The US punished an international court for judging an ally.

Trump announced a 10% baseline tariff and higher country rates under an emergency-powers law on 2 April 2025. On 20 February 2026, the Supreme Court held that IEEPA did not authorise those tariffs. The announcement reshaped trade relations, but its claimed legal basis did not survive.

Britain and the EU agree a new strategic partnership and a security and defence pact. They commit to work towards a food-trade agreement and a limited youth experience scheme. The joint statement backs a rules-based order with the UN at its core. Britain is building closer European ties while remaining outside the EU.

Britain and the EU agree terms for the UK to return to Erasmus+ in 2027. The education and training programme restores one part of the European cooperation Britain left after Brexit. Participation is due to cover the 2027/28 academic year; it does not restore EU membership or general freedom of movement.

Trump threatened tariffs on European allies over his push for Greenland, then dropped them after announcing a deal "framework" at Davos. Denmark's prime minister had warned that a US takeover would end NATO.

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said Pope Leo XIV had been invited to join Trump's Board of Peace and was considering the proposal. The invitation brought the Holy See into discussions about the new body. On 17 February, Parolin said the Holy See would not participate and that international crises should be managed above all by the UN.

In January, Guterres warned that the UN could run out of cash by July unless members paid their dues or changed its financial rules. By October the UN was still operating, but Guterres continued to warn that unpaid contributions threatened its work.

Canada signs an agreement opening SAFE-funded defence procurement to Canadian companies and products. The EU's €150 billion instrument provides loans to EU member states for joint purchases. Canada's participation gives its defence industry access to that procurement programme.

Europe's biggest defence meeting turned on one question: can it still rely on America? Germany's spending surge shows the answer it is preparing for.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin said the Holy See would not participate in the Board of Peace. He cited unresolved concerns and said international crises should be managed above all by the UN. The Vatican declined the invitation it had considered in January.

Fox News reported US troop reductions in Germany and Trump’s threats of cuts in Spain and Italy after disputes over the Iran war. He also told countries seeking help over the Strait of Hormuz to act for themselves. The dispute has strained NATO; the US remains a member.

The US formally rejected the UN's migration declaration, accusing UN agencies of helping drive mass migration into Western nations and undermining sovereignty, Fox News reported. Migration is one of the sharpest lines between Trump and the global bodies.

Germany and France announced German conventional participation in French nuclear exercises later in 2026. Merz said the work complements NATO deterrence. Their joint declaration says cooperation will add to NATO’s nuclear arrangements, with France retaining control of its weapons.

Carney welcomed the offer in Strasbourg after Canada-US trade talks broke down, and Al Jazeera cited polling showing 81% of Canadians back closer ties with the EU while staying outside it.

Carney and Macron announced closer cooperation on energy, defence, space and critical minerals, tied to the associate-member offer, Al Jazeera reported. Trump warned that aligning with the EU could be treated as a "hostile act".

The US, Denmark and Greenland signed a security agreement reaffirming Greenland’s sovereignty within the Kingdom of Denmark and expanding US access. Non-NATO countries cannot establish bases without the parties’ agreement. The pact opens new US defence areas without transferring the island.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham says Britain could keep its present EU relationship, seek a customs union, return to the single market or “go all the way” to membership. His government is examining the options after Labour had ruled out the single market and customs union in 2024. Britain has reopened the question.

French finance minister Roland Lescure invites Britain to “come back, anytime” after Burnham opens the question of closer EU ties. He says he wants Britain in the union to face emerging global threats together. The invitation puts European membership back into public discussion; it is not an offer of agreed accession terms.

Rubio announced sanctions banning transactions with the International Criminal Court itself, saying Washington aims to dismantle the tribunal and urging allies to join, ZeroHedge reported. The first round in 2025 targeted officials; this one targets the court.

Back in the Commons after conference season, Burnham said sticking with the status quo was "not good enough for Britain" and that "it would be a major dereliction of duty to turn away". He was making the case for closer ties and keeping longer-term options open, not announcing a bid to rejoin.

Fox News reported EU plans for about US$1 billion in early recovery funding for Gaza through UNDP and UNICEF, and cited BBC reporting of about US$18 billion in reconstruction pledges. Resolution 2803 authorised the Board of Peace's Gaza role through 2027. The funding report does not establish EU membership of the board.