Aug 23, 2026 · 9 min
Trump accelerates the unraveling of global rules
Is President Trump changing the rules-based world order?
The episode examines whether attacks on NATO, the United Nations, and U.S. commitments are weakening the institutions that have organized international cooperation.
- 1Mark Leonard argues that Trump is accelerating a broader shift toward geopolitical uncertainty and weaker international cooperation.
- 2Technology and trade ties remain deep, but governments increasingly use interdependence as a tool of geopolitical pressure.
- 3Governments may need flexible diplomacy, diversified relationships, and a broader definition of security to navigate instability.
Don't miss
Mark Leonard connects Trump’s pressure on international institutions to the wider transformation of interdependence into a geopolitical weapon.
The brief
The episode opens with President Trump’s criticism of NATO and the United Nations, framing it as part of a wider decline in the U.S.-led rules-based order.
Mark Leonard explains that international order depends on shared rules among major powers and enough balance of power to enforce them.
Leonard argues that Trump is both reflecting and accelerating a broader shift toward uncertainty, challenging assumptions about U.S. commitments and territorial sovereignty.
The discussion turns to weaponized interdependence: countries remain deeply connected through technology and trade while using those ties to exert geopolitical pressure.
Leonard’s prescription is practical rather than nostalgic: governments should expect unpredictability, diversify relationships, and treat security as broader than military threats.
Featuring
Foreign Affairs
CFR
Donald John TrumpListen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.