Donald Trump has reclaimed the US presidency after a four-year absence, becoming the 47th American president and signalling a return to his approach of prioritising US interests and assessing alliances based on the strength and alignment of other nations.
Leaders such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman may anticipate smoother negotiations with reduced scrutiny, while Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to welcome a supportive, familiar ally in Donald Trump. However, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky may face challenges, as Donald Trump tends to prioritise countries that align with US policies or show strength. The same rule may apply to his future dealings with China’s Xi Jinping.

Besides the world leaders who will be seen as either friends or foes in Trump’s world, India and several other countries are likely to be viewed as winners with his return to the White House, but the biggest test of his presidency will be resetting the ties with Muslim nations, most of whom have grown more anti-America during the past four years.

Among the Muslim nations, the most obvious and an old-time ally of the US is Saudi Arabia. But under the stewardship of Crown Prince Saudi Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto ruler, Trump would definitely like to revive efforts for a long-awaited security pact with the US. Trump, who played a key role in the Abraham Accords that established diplomatic ties between Israel and several Arab nations, is expected to focus on expanding this framework to include Saudi Arabia, also.

If Trump succeeds in brokering a peace deal between Israel and the kingdom, it could pave the way for the US to extend its security support to Saudi Arabia. This would allow the kingdom to shift its focus to economic development and reduce concerns over........

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