From Piro Ahmetaj
As the enthusiasm over the spectacular and well-deserved victory (the White House, Senate, Congress, and popular vote) against all odds—opponents, factors (fake news, deep fake, and fake exit polls), etc.—settles, the hearts, minds, and hopes of over 340 million Americans, as well as the world, turn to Donald Trump after his inauguration in January 2025. Below is a summary of the major challenges and great expectations for his second presidency over the next four years:
Firstly, Over the next four years, Trump-2 will be very much challenged to “the battle of his life” fulfilling his solemn promises to make America great again (or even stronger)—an unrivaled and invincible superpower for centuries to come.
Americans have cast their votes and are hopeful that Trump-2 will rescue/heal the USA from the “Deep State” (underground actors), façade democracy, corruption, the army of bureaucrats with democratic ties, and the interests of philanthropists who have infiltrated the American state, State Department, and federal institutions.
Regarding the economy, nearly all Americans are confident that Trump-2 will continue successfully reducing taxes (from 35% to 21% in his first term, and now to 15%) and improving citizens’ well-being.
Similarly, a vast majority believe he will fulfill his promises of tough policies against organized crime and illegal immigration; uphold conservative family values; address racial inequalities; support marginalized communities; and strengthen the cohesion of the American nation.
Secondly, A very much troubled global landscape. Everyone now acknowledges (even his detractors) that the USA and the world are inheriting an even darker status quo in terms of security than the one he left in 2021. Thus, Trump-2 will face a world even more shaken by bloody wars and unresolved conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, tensions with China over Taiwan, etc.
The most critical challenge remains Trump-2’s policies and approach towards four dictatorial countries: China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. Meanwhile, 50,000 Russian and North Korean troops on Russian soil are ready to launch a bloody offensive against Ukraine, which, “with the election of Trump-2, will certainly not happen!”
To be realistic, none of these challenges would have been different if Mrs. Harris had been elected President. The fundamental difference lies in how Trump-2 will leverage his leadership power—proudly stronger against opponents or potential enemies. Trump has never made leftist promises and is unlikely to address Americans in terms of “grand geostrategy” during this term.
What we all hope is that Trump-2 will unite the economic, military, diplomatic, technological power, and his leadership strength not only to restore the USA as an unrivaled superpower but also for a more peaceful world. To illustrate expectations from Trump-2’s firm approach, here are three historical lessons as references:
- Thanks to the USA’s unmatched military power, the Soviet Union retreated (tail between legs) from the brink of nuclear conflict with the USA over missile deployment in Cuba in 1962.
- Thanks to the USA’s involvement in 1989, the Berlin Wall fell, the Cold War ended, and the USSR and the Warsaw Pact disintegrated.
- Thanks to the USA’s intervention in December 1941, the three bloodthirsty powers of World War II (Hitler’s Germany, Mussolini’s Italy, and Japan) defeated by May 1945.
The universal lesson from these three historical victories/facts is that conflicts do not resolve themselves, nor with populist speeches. In all three cases, USA power and American Presidents’ decisions were decisive. Hence, I remain hopeful that this will happen again, with President Trump-2 stopping the war and teaching the axis of aggressors against peace, freedom, or humanity’s good a lesson.
Major Security Threats and Alliances. The greatest security threat to the USA, NATO/EU, and other USA allies remains the aggressive partnership of Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Former Trump-1 officials still doubt that this term will suffice, but Trump-2 is confident he will make his mark by bringing these adversaries to their knees, even considering this his “personal challenge.”
Trump-2 has promised a much harsher approach towards Iran, against which Trump-1 pursued a “maximum pressure” sanctions policy in his first term. He has also strongly reaffirmed his support for Israel in its confrontation with Iran, especially after the official revelation that “the FBI thwarted an Iranian plot to assassinate Trump before the elections!”
Regarding Russia, Trump will demonstrate “confidence in his leadership power, combined with forceful diplomacy, unparalleled economic strength, and the USA’s unmatched military power” during negotiations with President Vladimir Putin. This was confirmed by Trump himself recently, offering a final warning to Putin before taking office, urging him to “end the war soon, even for Russia’s own good, to avoid economic collapse (due to blockades and depletion of reserves to counter plummeting oil and gas prices).”
Trump is convinced that peace in Ukraine remains the most critical challenge of his second presidency. He is also aware that failure (highly unlikely) would embolden China to seize Taiwan, encourage Kremlin-instigated destabilization of the Balkans, etc.
Regarding China, Trump will escalate the economic war. When asked if he would use military force to defend Taiwan, Trump confirmed he “did not think it would ever come to that because Chinese leader Xi Jinping would not risk so much, as he respects me and knows I am crazy!” Economically, China will be much weaker since USA imports have dropped from 20% to 13% in the past six years.
Euro-Atlantic Focus. Contrary to the “naïve forms of Trump-Atlanticism,” as Mr. Macron cynically described it (while selling Rafale jets to Serbia), Trump has emphasized that the Euro-Atlantic Alliance needs cohesion more than ever against the aggressor axis. He has reconfirmed his commitment to “a stronger NATO and EU, leading to a safer world.”
Notably, Trump’s initial high-level appointments reflect determination and hope. So far, Trump has chosen Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State, Senator Mike Waltz (a special forces veteran) as National Security Advisor, and Senator John Ratcliffe as Director of National Intelligence (CIA), among others.
Thirdly, Trump-2’s Challenges and Messages of Hope for Albania and Kosovo. While withdrawing “without glory but with dragging,” the delusions of power suggesting “Trump-1 posed a threat to the USA and its relations with Albania” (!) have faded. During Trump-2, opportunistic politicians and Marxist sovereigntists will again be (disappointedly) wrong if they try to sell strong messages or photos with President Trump as partisan or personal endorsements. Trump-1 proved that his priority is not the names of current officials or party leaders but the convergence of American interests with those of Albania in the region and the Mediterranean.
Including the appointment of the new CIA Director (symbolically aligned with Albanian values/flag), which has enraged Belgrade, and beyond folkloric enthusiasm in Pristina and Tirana, I remain hopeful that Trump-2 will personally reinvest in concluding his Oval Office-signed Peace Agreement (September 2020) between two sovereign countries (Kosovo-Serbia), enforcing a “such as the peace highway between Belgrade-Pristina, a regional port in the deep waters of the Adriatic, and reviving Kosovo’s international recognitions.” This reinforced agreement counters the oscillations of Milosevic-era geopolitics and Moscow’s regional interests”.
Contrary to Bolshevik tales that “Donald Trump himself will come to save Albania” I hope the generation raised in freedom (post-1990) and all Albanians will “self-produce a Trump or a Trumpist Movement” to return Albania to the values of modern conservatism: “Family, Country, God, free Vote, Market, National Interests, democratic balance of powers, and the Euro-Atlantic orientation of our blessed nation, so both sovereign nation Albania and Kosovo”!
May God bless Trump-2’s Presidency, the partnership with the USA, and Albanians’ aspiration to make Albania and Kosovo like the democratic Europe.
Author: Albanian Ret. Gen Piro AHMETAJ:
Senior Adviser on NS, Regional & NATO Matters,
Vice President of Atlantic Counsil,
Board member of Israel House; and former:
National Security Adviser to Democratic Party,
Defense adviser to the President, DCHOD, and
National Military Representative to SHAPE/NATO
