The Crisis of International Law Amid US Retreat Under Donald Trump
By 2025, the postwar rules-based international order faces a significant legitimacy and credibility crisis, driven largely by the US retreat from international law and multilateral institutions under President Donald Trump. This shift was signaled early on, with Marco Rubio's February Senate confirmation framing the postwar order as obsolete and as a weapon used against the US, advocating instead for policies centered on national interests.
The US National Security Strategy reflected this transformation by warning of European cultural erasure and promoting alliances with nationalist movements aligned with Russia, indicating a rejection of efforts to maintain the global order as it previously stood. Trump's foreign policy approach is characterized as chaotic and non-linear, driven by a personal leadership style that undermines consistent adherence to international law norms and fosters unreliable expectations among allies.
A central theme of this era is the rollback of international law constraints in favor of coercive power, described as "mobster diplomacy." In Ukraine, Trump preferred rapprochement with Vladimir Putin over expelling Russia, placing the burden of consequences on Ukraine. In Venezuela, US efforts to secure access to resources reportedly involved civilian harm at sea, accompanied by a dismissive response from Vice President JD Vance.
The US actively undermined international law institutions: sanctions were imposed on International Criminal Court judge Nicolas Guillou, with account closures following; European banks and payment platforms curtailed services; approximately $1 billion in UN-related funding was cut; and roughly 1,000 US staff at the UN were fired. The US withdrew from or weakened UN bodies such as the Human Rights Council and UNESCO, leading to its isolation at the UN General Assembly.
Scholars and officials have warned about the erosion of the rule-of-law paradigm and urged a reaffirmation of foundational principles including the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
