The pledge that defined Trump foreign policy at the start of his second term was simple: no more wars, and American interests first. The record of the past two years looks very different, with US power deployed in disputes across Europe, the Arctic, Latin America and the Middle East.

Ukraine: an unfinished promise

Ending Russia's war in Ukraine was the promise Trump made most explicitly - he vowed to resolve it on his first day back in office. The conflict is now in its fifth year.

Relations with Kyiv have at times been openly hostile:

• •In February 2025, Trump and Vice-President JD Vance publicly berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a heated Oval Office meeting, accusing him of insufficient appreciation for US support.
• •The confrontation was followed by a temporary US suspension of military assistance and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
• •Ukraine has repeatedly sought additional Patriot air defence systems, but deliveries have been limited amid depleted US stockpiles.
• •Trump welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin back onto the international stage at a summit in Alaska, which produced no agreement.

Trump went on to announce a diesel export deal with Russia, a move Zelensky criticised as a "weak decision". Putin, for his part, has proposed a trilateral summit with Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss Ukraine - with Kyiv itself not invited.

Greenland and Canada: pressure on allies

The administration's ambitions have also strained ties with allies. In January 2026, Trump refused to rule out using military force to take control of Greenland, despite assurances from Greenland and Denmark that the territory was "not for sale". Several NATO countries rallied behind Greenland, some deploying military personnel there, and Trump's answer to governments resisting his Arctic push was the threat of steeper tariffs. By September, Washington, Copenhagen and Nuuk had put their names to a defence agreement that enlarges the American footprint on the island while leaving sovereignty untouched.

Toward Canada, Trump has repeatedly referred to the country as America's "51st state", and he mocked former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau with the nickname "Governor Trudeau". Canada's new prime minister, Mark Carney, has firmly rejected the idea of the country becoming part of the United States, and ties remain strained as Ottawa aligns closer to Europe.

Latin America: the 'Donroe Doctrine'

Trump's approach to the hemisphere has been dubbed the "Donroe Doctrine", a play on his name and the 1823 Monroe Doctrine. In January 2026, after a US military operation in Venezuela captured President Nicolas Maduro, Trump embraced the comparison, joking that the doctrine should instead be called the "Donroe Doctrine".

Maduro was taken to the United States to face criminal charges. Trump said American oil companies would help rebuild Venezuela's oil industry, and Washington has since secured control over Venezuelan oil reserves and gained influence over how the proceeds are spent.

The US military has also carried out a series of strikes against vessels in the Caribbean, off Venezuela's coast, killing hundreds of people. The administration calls the targeted boats "narco-terrorist" vessels, but officials have not provided evidence that they were carrying drugs.

Gaza and Iran: from peace plan to war

In February 2025, Trump proposed a US takeover of the Gaza Strip and the resettlement of its Palestinian population, sharing an AI-generated video of a "Riviera of the Middle East". The following September, he presented a 20-point Gaza peace plan alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The plan initially delivered results. A ceasefire took effect the next month, securing the release of all remaining hostages and increasing humanitarian access to the territory. A year on, however, the plan remains largely stalled: Israeli strikes continue, Hamas remains armed, and there has been no full Israeli withdrawal or comprehensive reconstruction. Washington has pushed for Hamas disarmament alongside a phased Israeli withdrawal, while Netanyahu has insisted that disarmament must come first.

In February 2026, Trump joined Israel in launching a war against Iran - one of the most consequential foreign policy decisions of his presidency. During the 2024 campaign, Trump had accused Kamala Harris of risking a war in the Middle East.

The campaign's consequences have been severe:

• •The US-Israeli strikes killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several other senior officials.
• •Iran subsequently asserted control over the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route for global energy supplies, disrupting international shipping and energy markets.

On Iran, Trump and Netanyahu remain at odds over how the conflict ends: Trump has explored the possibility of a deal with Tehran, while Netanyahu has continued to advocate military action. Trump has publicly backed the Israeli leader, endorsing him ahead of Israel's latest elections.