U.S. Foreign Policy Surprises in 2025

The first year of a hypothetical second Trump term in 2025 brought significant changes to U.S. foreign policy, departing from long-held assumptions. Major events included Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran, a buildup of American forces in the southern Caribbean, and unpredictable relations with Russia and Ukraine. One expert notes the most surprising development is that the administration has actually followed through on radical ideas like bombing Iran's nuclear facilities and demanding increased European defense spending. This new approach is characterized as being unconstrained by past conventions and willing to make deep cuts to the foreign policy bureaucracy.