Former Director of the Legon Centre for International Affairs, Professor Vladimir Antwi Danso, has criticised what he describes as a flawed approach adopted by US President Donald Trump in his bid to restore America’s global dominance.
According to him, America’s long-standing reliance on diplomatic pressure, alliance cohesion and the extensive use of sanctions to subdue other nations has triggered a backlash that is now manifesting on several fronts.
He explained that countries such as China and Russia, which were once marginalised within the global system, are reassessing their roles and influence on the world stage. This shift, he noted, has become a major source of frustration for Trump, particularly as global economic dynamics begin to change.
Speaking during a discussion on geopolitics, trends, tensions and Trump on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on Wednesday, January 14, Professor Antwi Danso said the aggressive manner in which the United States has projected its power and democratic values internationally is increasingly working against its own interests
Professor Antwi Danso also pointed to the weakening dominance of the US dollar, observing that an increasing number of countries are exploring alternatives to dollar-based trade.
He highlighted Saudi Arabia’s recent moves away from exclusive dollar transactions, despite its long-standing 1974 agreement with the United States that established the petrodollar system.Professor Antwi Danso argued that these developments are partly driving Trump’s determination to reassert American dominance, but warned that the strategy being pursued is deeply flawed.
In Prof. Antwi Danso’s assessment, the attempt to restore U.S. dominance through pressure, withdrawal, and transactional diplomacy misunderstood how power functions in the 21st century. Rather than making America stronger, the approach reduced its influence, strained alliances, and accelerated the emergence of a more multipolar world.
