Predictably, present US efforts at exercising suzerainty, as it were, over the rest of the West and outside are facing stiff challenges. The foremost counter-challenge to these hegemonic aims comes from the EU. Next in line is an Arab plan to reconstruct and develop the war-shattered Gaza Strip, in an outright rejection of President Trump’s ‘Middle East Riviera’ fantasy.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was forthright and lucid recently in Europe’s decision to stand by Ukraine in the face of the Trump administration’s efforts to implement a so-called peace plan involving, among other things, the selling of Ukraine’s mineral rights to the US. As should be expected of an extreme Right wing US Republican regime, there are no pretensions here to be on the side of principled politics. On the other hand, monetary gain is the uppermost consideration for the regime.

The EU chief said: ‘We are living in the most momentous and dangerous of times. This is a moment for Europe, and we are ready to step-up.’ She had gone on to elaborate to the West on a ‘5 part plan to strengthen Europe’s defense industry and provide “immediate” military support to Ukraine.’

Right now, Europe cannot measure up to the US in terms of the quantity and monetary value of military assistance supplied to the Ukraine and other ‘trouble spots’ that matter to the West, but what is noteworthy is that Europe is losing no time in coming out with viable defense plans to support Ukraine in its wasting war with invasive Russia.

That is, Europe is very much on the ready with a ‘strategic plan’ to implement its international defense commitments with or without the US. It is aptly called ‘Re-Arm Europe Plan’ and is worth 800 billion pounds. In fact, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is already on record as having promised to deploy ‘boots on the ground and planes in the air’, if required, in defense of Ukraine’s sovereignty.

At present, though, there is recognition on the part of Europe and the US that they need each other for the achievement of their respective international policy aims but Europe’s defense plans for Ukraine amply demonstrate that, going forward, it would not be a question of Europe tamely falling in line with the US.

To express it bluntly, it would boil down to the US not going unchallenged in its efforts at exercising any suzerainty over the rest of the West.

Besides, the world is yet to be informed of any principal peace component in the US’ plans to end the Ukraine war. The sale of Ukraine’s strategic resources to the US does in no way equate with any peace plan which should not only involve Russia getting back to its internationally recognized boundaries with Ukraine but should also feature a recognition by Russia of Ukraine’s sovereignty or its right to self-determination. In the absence of such conditions, any purported peace plan would need to be dismissed as a farcical document.

In fact the Trump administration is right now providing the world with quite a few ‘laughs’. For instance, why should Ukraine be ‘grateful’ or ‘thankful’ to the US? If in the past the US provided military assistance to the Ukraine, it did so for strategic and other reasons that dovetailed with the US’ national interest. It was not a matter of the US bestowing any kindness on Ukraine.

Besides, President Trump cannot expect any excessive cordiality from a visiting head of government by ‘talking down’ to him, which is what the Trump administration did recently when Ukraine’s President visited the White House. Civility in bilateral relations, after all, is a two-way process.

As notable a challenge to the US as that being posed by the EU comes in the form of an Arab plan to take on the reconstruction and development of the Gaza in the event of some peace and stability descending on the region.

Arab leaders at an emergency summit recently in Cairo reportedly evolved a $53 billion reconstruction program for the Gaza, which is seen as outrivaling the US plan to ‘take over Gaza’ and turn it into a ‘Middle East Riviera’. Further, the Arab countries concerned are firmly opposing moves by the US to move out the Palestinian community from the Gaza for the furtherance of its fanciful project.

The latter development is doubly significant in view of the fact that the Arab plan also endorses the ‘Two State’ solution in the Middle East, which for most sensible sections, is the only path to a measure of stability in the region. If the Arab plan meets with wide acceptance, the next step for the Arab world would be to enlist Western support for it. Subsequently the difficult undertaking of getting Israel to agree to it should be taken on by concerned sections of the international community. It goes without saying that the plan should also satisfy the security needs of Israel.

Thus, it would not be a question of the US acting unilaterally or going ahead without being challenged in the implementation of its plans for the Ukraine and the Gaza. The sizeable opposition it would be facing on both fronts would require it to negotiate with the utmost insight with both the EU and the Arab world.

Moreover, there are ‘bread and butter’ issues that ought to stop the US in its tracks and make it think long and deep on the consequences of the cavalier course it is currently taking in international affairs. For instance, stock markets worldwide have been rattled by US plans to slam unacceptably high tariffs on exports from Canada, Mexico and China. Since these tariffs would not go unchallenged by the countries concerned, the world would need to brace for prolonged and destructive trade wars among the above countries which would have the effect of adding to the cost of living bill of citizens the world over.

Needless to say, excessive economic pressures are the ideal breeding ground for stepped-up social and political discontent anywhere. Considering the foregoing, the Trump administration would do well to bring a measure of perceptiveness and foresight to bear in its management of international affairs. Among other things, it would do well to rein-in its fatal tendency to dabble dangerously in populist politics.

By Jayasri Priyalal

Populism is a political approach that seeks to appeal to ordinary people who feel their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups, often creating an “us vs. them” mentality that divides society. During his first term, President Trump blamed various groups and factors, such as immigrants and unfair trade practices in China, where state subsidies distort markets, leading to cheap goods flooding American markets and impacting jobs and industries. President Trump was highly critical of the inefficiencies within US government institutions. He is determined to implement his economic strategy, known as MAGAnomics, to address these issues.

American exceptionalism was the mantra during President Donald Trump’s first term. Smaller governments for increased efficiency remain a myth as capital markets are heavily dependent on near zero interest funds. They do not come from private conglomerates as earned profits, but from the state-run financial agencies.

Mr. Donald Trump was elected as the 47th President of the United States of America, with “Make America Great Again” as his dominant campaign theme. He rose to political prominence as a populist, advocating for nationalist interests among Americans. Since taking office on January 20th, President Trump has issued numerous executive orders. Some of these decisions have been legally challenged at the time of writing this essay. The President’s office has been issuing executive orders at a rapid pace, possibly as an effort to “drain the swamp,” a promise he made during his first term.

Ruchir Sharma writes that the era of small government ended long ago, as the global financial assets are loaded with debt instruments and the real capital and stocks are only 30 percent of the financial assets. In his book What went Wrong with Capitalism, Ruchir Sharma forewarns about fake prosperity of giant corporations dominating the economy in a debt-pickled business culture. When stock market values of largest corporations cross US$ 3 trillion and fortunes of richest tycoons break US$ 200 billion, a bigger government must be the answer to balance the unrestrained financialisation, argues Sharma candidly. It will be too early to comment whether a strategic regulatory and state capture is underway in the hands of the super-rich in the second term of President Donald Trump.

The failed neo-liberal ideology built on the premise of privatisation of profits and socialisation social problems culture appears to be gaining ground in the name of efficiency once again. President Trump has set up a new agency -Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to increase efficiency and appointed billionaire, Elon Musk to head the agency. Wonder whether they have plans to close the Federal Reserve for minting money at neo-zero interest rates, and reduce the size of the government?

One significant action was the closure of USAID, which sent shockwaves through development agencies that relied on its funds to address the needs of the poor and marginalised. In the process, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the Trump administration have uncovered many illicit operations within USAID, revealing hidden agendas. Media reports suggest there is evidence of USAID’s involvement in supporting the demonstrators of the Orange Revolution in Ukraine in 2004.

“History doesn’t repeat itself,

but it does rhymes” – Mark Twain

This write-up aims to analyse the historical trends of great leaders who have influenced human civilisation and how they demonstrated their leadership through either fear or courage. Fear and courage were the two key determinants that drove those leading and mobilising the masses for struggles for the common good. However, history reveals how leaders chose just and unjust causes to lead for better or worse.

The writer opines that the current extreme right-wing populist political trend seeks to reverse many of the progressive achievements’ humankind has secured. Far-right political movements are rallying with populist movements like those that existed in the pre-WWI era. Globalisation-driven neoliberal policies have widened inequalities across all social segments, benefiting only a handful of the super-rich at the expense of the larger portion of have-nots.

It appears that current frustrations are being capitalised on by the far-right populist movement to gain electoral success by dividing public opinion and sparking fear. This fear includes losing jobs and livelihoods to migrants from other countries and Americans losing their economic superiority to China. China’s technological achievements in AI and electric vehicle manufacturing, along with new geopolitical alliances outside the sphere of influence of northern hemisphere-controlled states, are casting doubts among electorates in Western democracies.

The antidote to fear is hope, which is being strategically utilised by far-right political movements in Europe, North America, and South America now. Therefore, populists are getting elected to govern the helpless and hopeless. Democracy is ineffective if the prevailing economy does not benefit most of the society. History demonstrates how the Weimar Republic in Germany collapsed in 1933, paving the way for World War II and bringing misery and hardship to mankind with the democratically elected Adolf Hitler coming to power.

Hitler and the Nazi regime unleashed an extreme right-wing doctrine, leading to the Holocaust, driven by the fear that Jews and migrants threatened the supremacy of the Aryan German race—a fundamentally misconceived belief. By embedding fear among the German population, the Nazi forces were able to act with a distorted sense of courage, driven by their misguided mission to make Germany great in Europe.

History reveals that the collapse of the Weimar Republic in Germany was due to economic problems, disdain for democracy, political polarisation, and international isolation. Are we witnessing any parallels in the 21st century? On February 23rd, 2025, Germans elected a new chancellor, and the far-right AfD gained the highest number of votes in history, securing the second-highest number of seats in the Bundestag, pushing the outgoing chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) into third place.

As Mark Twain famously asked, does history repeat itself or merely rhyme? In the current context, numerous economic policy uncertainties have left much of the population feeling helpless, hopeless, and frustrated. The neoliberal order that dominated for decades has widened inequalities not only in income and wealth but also in access to education and health services across communities.

Currently, it appears that the super-rich are stepping into state and regulatory capture, aligning with policymakers. Unelected Elon Musk now sits in President Donald Trump’s cabinet meetings. Will they team up to alleviate poverty and uplift the quality of life for marginalised people?

The Only Thing We Have to Fear is Fear Itself” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) led the US administration during the crisis of the 1930s. His New Deal policy package, which stimulated the sagging economy with increased government expenditure and saved jobs, ultimately turned the situation around. FDR defined courage as not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear.

The emerging economic powerhouse, China, and its administrative system, the Communist Party of China, face geopolitical and economic challenges. Are they influenced by fear or courage in their response? President Donald Trump and his administration have challenged many of their trading partners by imposing conditions on trade and technological advancements. Is China responding to these tactics—such as increased taxes, economic sanctions, or manoeuvres regarding sovereign rights in Taiwan and Tibet—with fear or courage?

Throughout history, emperors, military dictators, and malevolent political leaders have demonstrated ruthless leadership based on false beliefs catalysed by fear, leading to devastating wars and human suffering. Among them are democratically elected leaders who soon transformed into ruthless dictators, such as Adolf Hitler in Germany, leading to World War II and the destruction of millions of innocent lives with immense suffering and bloodshed.

When analysing historical trends, a clear pattern emerges. In the 15th century, religious wars were fought under the false belief of spiritual superiority. From the 16th to the 18th century, imperialistic wars were driven by the perceived dominance of European civilisation and the spread of faith. Subsequent conflicts, including World War I, World War II, and the Cold War in the 19th and 20th centuries, were triggered by the monopolisation of natural resources, particularly energy, through colonisation.

The dominant ideologies that led to many human catastrophes during these wars were based on false beliefs, driven by fear and greed for the perceived benefits of the then-dominant ideology, industrial capitalism. It would be insightful to know whether the leaders who led these wars acted out of fear or courage. However, no research is needed to prove that great leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela acted with sheer courage and conviction. In contrast, Adolf Hitler’s leadership, fuelled by fear, led to mass ethnic cleansing in gas chambers, mobilising populism with an “us vs. them” mentality.

TikTok to Deepseek: China’s Courageous Technological Superiority

Now, the geopolitical battles revolve once again around trade wars. Are there dominant ideologies or false beliefs driving the uncertainties in the global economy as in the past? Has the monopolistic advantage derived through trade in services by the global north since the late 20th century come to an end? Can global communities still rely on the open market and free trade fundamentalism founded on a rules-based order?

It appears that China is now in Trump’s shop in America, and the rest of the world is making calculations about American and Chinese dreams for the greater good of humanity. It is wise to take stock, learning from history without leaving space for disastrous cyber or nuclear wars that could shatter the hope for shared prosperity for all.

According to the World Bank, 850 million people have been lifted out of abject poverty in China. By 1949, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) came into being, defeating all feudal and imperialist forces under the leadership of Chairman Mao Zedong. It appears that Chinese political leadership is working with courage and determination to transform the PRC into an economic powerhouse by 2049. Chinese ambitions and aspirations of achieving these goals cannot be deterred by mere threats of tariffs and sanctions, as they have countered all such measures fearlessly.

During his first term in office, President Trump targeted the Chinese telecommunications company Huawei, raising concerns about US national security. The global north rallied with the USA and kept Huawei out of bounds. President Joe Biden continued with the sanctions and then banned TikTok, citing security concerns once again. Furthermore, President Biden banned the export of advanced powerful chips to China by enacting the CHIPS Act. Amidst all these constraints, Deepseek has become a popular AI search engine, and President Donald Trump keeps dancing to TikTok videos despite a court order.

Wang Chuanfu, the founder of BYD, a Chinese electric vehicle maker, now dominates the markets, sending courageous signals to Elon Musk’s Tesla brand. President Deng Xiaoping, the father of China’s modernisation era, foresaw the advantage and superiority of China’s rare earth mineral deposits as early as the 1990s. China dominates rare earth minerals, controlling 87% of the global market. Naturally, this fear drives US presidents to search for rare earth and mineral deposits in Iceland and Ukraine.

Melloney Dassanayaka represented Sri Lanka at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant held in Mexico … and, what’s so special about her (unlike most of our pageant winners who get involved in frivolous activities, when they return from an international event, or during their reign), Miss Universe Sri Lanka is doing exactly what the 40th Mrs. World pageant winner, Tshego Gaelae, from South Africa, has ventured out to do for her country and her people.

Although our Queen wasn’t crowned Miss Universe 2024, she must be congratulated for impressing many in Mexico. Her live interview was well received. This is one of the bouquets that came her way …

“The humble Queen. This was my very first impression of Melloney from the moment I spoke with her. She embodies humility, but there is so much more to her than meets the eye. What makes me admire her even more is how she shatters stereotypes in Sri Lanka.

“Being a banker and a basketball player, she proves that women can excel in any field.

“Rooted in strength, the fire in her heart shows us that women are destined for greatness, just like her.”

And this is another compliment that she received …

“Dear Melloney. I have the great memory of how I met you. I was super nervous and you were having breakfast, super calm, but you took my hands, smiled and transmitted me a lot of calm by inviting me to your table and talking. Thank you for motivating me from that moment that I can achieve what I want to be. You are so funny smart, hardworking, sweet and kind.

“All your outfits were beautiful. Thank you for teaming up with me. You deserved rest after finishing your 15 steps checklist because you were the first on the team to finish them.

“I treasure the perfume you gave me, as well as the tea envelopes and, of course, having met you.

“Sending you many hugs and come back to Mexico whenever you want. Hoping to see you again for chilaquiles (authentic Mexican meal).”

Back home, Melloney is aready into quite a few projects.

She was involved with the Rotary Club, of Port City, in a project which took the form of a motor rally, held on 8th February, 2025.

The event was advertised as follows:

Exciting News! Join us at the Motor Rally to Save Little Hearts on Saturday, 08 February 2025, and meet Miss Universe Sri Lanka, Melloney Dassanayaka! Don’t miss this chance to support a noble cause and speak with our Event Ambassador and Beauty Queen. Limited slots available—register now for the Motor Rally!

Melloney says she is the Ambassador for this ‘Little Hearts’ project which helps facilitate the cardiac and critical care complex at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital.

The Endometriosis Support and Awareness Foundation (ESAF) had Melloney as their Special Guest at a five km run to bring awareness on endometriosis.

Our Beauty Queen is also supporting a few single-women-headed families, in Matara, to help pay their children’s school and tuition fees.

Melloney, who is an animal lover, added that she is looking forward to collaborate with an elephant conservation centre to help bring awareness on the ongoing issues.

“I was asked to do a photoshoot recently, in Sigiriya, on an elephant, but I couldn’t do it; honestly I broke into tears when I saw the elephant,” she said.

In conclusion, Miss Universe Sri Lanka said that her entire family enjoys reading The Island newspaper.

“The Island newspaper is a hit with my family.”