A ‘new world order’ is here, and it’s here to stay

In Focus delivers deeper coverage of the political, cultural, and ideological issues shaping America. Published daily by senior writers and experts, these in-depth pieces go beyond the headlines to give readers the full picture. You can find our full list of In Focus pieces here.

In American foreign policy, what is old is new again. As one famous historian observed, the Trump administration’s embrace of tariffs, military interventions in Latin America, “spheres of influence,” and a “great power rivalry” complete with arms races, call to mind the late 19th century, not the 21st.

But the administration is not a retrograde force. Rather, it is reacting to the world as it now is, not as America wishes it to be.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently declared that