The Changing Role of The United States in the Liberal International Order: From Order Keeper to Disruptor

Abstract

Donald Trump's foreign policy rhetoric and actions since taking office again in 2025 continue to have a shocking effect on the international stage. The new Trump administration's foreign policy steps are further increasing scrutiny of the liberal international order. The new administration's foreign policy preferences and orientations are making the global role of the US, the architect and protector of the liberal international order, even more controversial. Trump's interest-based and unilateral foreign policy approach, expressed through his “America First” rhetoric, indicates that the US is stepping back from the role it has played in the international order until now. This study aims to answer the question of how the new Trump administration's foreign policy rhetoric and practices affect the liberal international order and the US's role in this order. The study discusses the impact of the Trump administration's protectionist trade policies, withdrawal from international organizations, aggressive stance toward allies and partners, rhetoric that Greenland should belong to the US, and attack on Venezuela on the liberal international order. The Trump administration seeks to change, undermine, and in some cases completely reject the most fundamental principles of the order that the US sought to shape after World War II. Trump's rhetoric disregarding the sovereignty of other states and his statements and actions rejecting multilateralism are eroding the US's commitment to the liberal international order. Although the US remains the world's largest economy and sole superpower, it is losing its credibility as a reliable and predictable ally and legitimate leader.

Keywords

• Liberal International Order
• United States
• Donald Trump
• Change

Liberal Uluslararası Düzende ABD’nin Değişen Rolü: Düzen Koyucudan Düzen Bozucuya

Abstract

Donald Trump’ın 2025 yılında yeniden başkanlık görevine başladıktan sonraki dış politika söylemleri ve uygulamaları uluslararası arenada şok etkisi yaratmaya devam etmektedir. Yeni Trump yönetiminin dış politika adımları liberal uluslararası düzene yönelik sorgulamaları daha arttırmaktadır. Yeni yönetimin dış politika tercihleri ve yönelimleri liberal uluslararası düzenin mimarı ve koruyucusu konumundaki ABD’nin küresel rolünü daha da tartışmalı hale getirmektedir. Trump’ın “Önce Amerika” söylemiyle ifade edilen çıkara dayalı ve tek taraflı dış politika anlayışı, ABD’nin uluslararası düzende şimdiye kadar oynamakta olduğu rolden geri adım atmakta olduğunu göstermektedir. Bu çalışma yeni Trump yönetiminin dış politika söylemlerinin ve uygulamalarının liberal uluslararası düzeni ve ABD’nin bu düzendeki rolünü nasıl etkilediği sorusuna cevap vermeyi amaçlamaktadır. Çalışmada Trump yönetiminin korumacı ticaret politikalarının, uluslararası kuruluşlardan çekilmesinin, müttefik ve ortaklara yönelik saldırgan tavırlarının, Grönland’ın ABD’ye ait olması gerektiği yönündeki söylemlerinin ve Venezuela’ya yönelik saldırısının liberal uluslararası düzen üzerindeki etkisi tartışılmaktadır. Trump yönetimi, ABD’nin İkinci Dünya Savaşı sonrasında şekillendirmeye çalıştığı düzenin en temel ilkelerini değiştirmeye, bozmaya ve bazı durumlarda tamamen reddetmeye çalışmaktadır. Trump’ın diğer devletlerin egemenliğini hiçe sayan söylemleri ve çok taraflılığı dışlayan açıklamaları ve eylemleri ABD'nin liberal uluslararası düzene olan bağlılığı aşındırmaktadır. ABD hâlâ dünyanın en büyük ekonomisi ve tek süper askeri gücü olsa da güvenilir ve öngörülebilir bir müttefik ve meşru bir lider olma vasıflarını yitirmektedir.

Keywords

• Liberal Uluslararası Düzen
• ABD
• Donald Trump
• Değişim

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