Will Trump Bring Magic or Mayhem to the Global South?

w/ Karthik Sankaran and Sarang Shidore

If you have been paying any attention to international politics over the last four years you have no doubt picked up on the phrase “Global South” relating to a host of middle and small powers ranging from South Africa and Indonesia, Brazil to the Pacific Islands and their growing influence on the geopolitical stage. These nations have emerged as opposition to Western policies on Ukraine and Israel, they have raised the specter of alternative financial systems, even dollarization, to get around sanctions and the iron grip of the West in international markets and trade. They have asserted themselves at the UN and are gathering influence in groupings like BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.They embrace what they believe is the new multipolar world.

But now Trump is back. It would seem many of these nations just want to open up to trade, and provide security for their people without being forced to choose sides in any Great Power Competition or dynamic. What kind of approach will the new president take? Will the threat of tariffs right off the bat spoil any chance for productive relations? Are many of these countries — particularly in Latin America — already predisposed to an adversarial relationship with Trump? Are others happy he is back?

Is there any real “Global South” in which they are acting on behalf of a collective realignment?

I talk with my friends and colleagues Sarang Shidore director of the Global South program at the Quincy Institute, and Karthik Sankaran, senior research fellow in geoeconomics in the Global South program, to set the table on this highly textured issue, particularly has the world awaits Trump 2.0.

More from Sarang:

The Quiet Development Shaking America’s Power

The Return of the Global South

More from Karthik:

Targeting China, Biden fires a big tech salvo at the entire world

The U.S. Dollar Is Riding High. Trump Could Put an End to All That.