(MENAFN) Donald Trump’s second term has seen dramatic and often unexpected shifts in U.S. foreign policy, ranging from initial attempts to improve relations with Russia to publicly criticizing Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, challenging European allies over democratic issues, and engaging in trade wars with traditional partners. His administration has also suggested bold ideas like acquiring Greenland, hinted at integrating Canada as the “51st state,” and dismantled longstanding U.S. soft power institutions such as USAID, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, and Voice of America.

While these moves may seem uniquely characteristic of Trump, historian Ivan Timofeev draws a historical parallel with Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union. Gorbachev also began his tenure with moderate reforms that soon evolved into a broad rethinking of Soviet foreign policy. Though he succeeded in ending the Cold War, his leadership ultimately coincided with the collapse of the USSR. Timofeev suggests that Trump's ambitious and disruptive strategies could risk leading the U.S. down a similarly destabilizing path.

On the surface, Trump and Gorbachev appear fundamentally different. Trump was born into wealth, exudes flamboyance, and built his brand in capitalism and democracy. Gorbachev came from humble beginnings, maintained a modest personal life, and rose through the Soviet political system. Trump’s worldview is driven by nationalism and self-interest, while Gorbachev advocated for international cooperation and rational governance.

Despite these contrasts, both leaders shared a commitment to reforming what they saw as overstretched and outdated systems. Their attempts to reduce burdensome international obligations and modernize state operations reflect a similar desire to reshape their respective countries’ global roles—though, in Gorbachev’s case, that path ended in national dissolution. The comparison raises the question: Could Trump's transformative approach to U.S. foreign policy have equally far-reaching consequences?

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