By Alia Mujtaba
The world in 2025 is witnessing an unusual trend: the United States — under President Donald Trump — is stepping into the role of a global peacemaker. Whether in Africa, the Middle East, or South Asia, Washington is actively involved in diplomacy, ceasefires, and peace frameworks. But is this a new face of America — or just the old imperialist wearing a new mask?
America: Peacemaker by Words, Warlord by History
The U.S. has long presented itself as a force for global order, yet its historical playbook tells a different story:
- Iraq (1991, 1993, 2003): From the Gulf War to the 2003 invasion under false claims of WMDs, America’s involvement left behind a destabilized region and helped birth extremist groups like ISIS.
- Afghanistan (2001–2021): Two decades of war to eliminate terrorism ended with the Taliban regaining control — a full circle of bloodshed and loss.
- Iran (2025): After Israel fired missiles at Iran, sparking retaliation, the U.S. joined by striking Iranian nuclear sites. Despite Iran and credible outlets like The New York Times and BBC rejecting claims of complete destruction, the attack was swiftly followed by calls for ceasefire. First attack, then negotiate.
- Pakistan–India (2025): Amid full-blown conflict beyond routine LOC skirmishes, Pakistan retaliated strongly — reportedly shooting down an Indian Rafale jet. Only then did the U.S. intervene to broker a ceasefire.
- Palestine (2024–2025): Even as Israel’s military offensive in Gaza killed thousands, including women and children, the U.S. vocally supported Tel Aviv, defending it at the UN and continuing arms shipments. Now, it seeks peace.
Gaza: From Genocide to “Peace” — On Whose Terms?
Israel’s devastating campaign in Gaza has drawn global outrage. Yet, quietly, Trump’s administration is:
- Pressuring Netanyahu to end the war and pursue political solutions.
- Allegedly proposing a trade: U.S. recognition of West Bank settlements in return for Israeli backing of a future Palestinian state led by a restructured Palestinian Authority.
- Hoping to expand the Abraham Accords, possibly including Saudi Arabia and Syria.
Netanyahu’s office denies such plans, according to The Times of Israel, but reports across Israeli and Arab media suggest high-level backchannel diplomacy.
This shift appears less about justice for Palestinians, and more about reshaping regional power dynamics — with Washington consolidating influence behind every peace gesture.
DRC–Rwanda Peace Deal: Another Move on the Chessboard
In another theater, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda signed a landmark peace agreement in Washington, mediated by Trump’s diplomats. Key features:
- Disarmament of proxy forces.
- Economic integration across the Great Lakes region.
- Joint security operations.
It marks a pivotal turn in African diplomacy — again, with the U.S. at the center.
Donald Trump: From Hawk to Dove — or Just a Fox in Disguise?
Trump’s foreign policy pivot has raised eyebrows. Once the emblem of hardline, militaristic policy, he now brands himself as a peacemaker.
He’s been nominated several times for the Nobel Peace Prize — most notably for the Abraham Accords during his first term — but never won. He publicly criticized the Nobel Committee, contrasting his efforts with Barack Obama’s early win.
In 2025, Trump once again finds himself a nominee — this time reportedly backed by Pakistan and the DRC.
In my own assessment, Trump’s ceasefire efforts seem not purely altruistic. They are strategically timed — and the Nobel nomination may have been subtly encouraged by his team. Not as a quid pro quo, but as part of a broader legacy-rebranding campaign: from chaos to peacemaker.
Ceasefires and the Global Game Board
In a matter of months, Trump has:
- Brokered the DRC-Rwanda peace deal in Washington.
- Intervened in the Israel-Iran conflict with U.S. missile strikes, followed by a ceasefire push.
- Pressured Israel to end its war in Gaza, linking the move to potential normalization with Arab states and a two-state roadmap — a shift from his earlier term.
The playbook seems familiar: conflict, then conciliation — with Washington at the helm.
From Tactical Hawk to Strategic Peacemaker?
Under Trump 2.0, the U.S. pattern is clear:
- Initiate or insert itself into volatile situations.
- Rapidly propose ceasefires and peace deals.
- Frame itself as the only credible mediator.
But history speaks louder: America’s imperial toolkit isn’t retired — it’s simply rebranded. As I see it, this is a refined continuation of global power projection. First the strike, then the handshake.
Is This a Real Pivot — or Just Optics?
Amid global uncertainty and shifting dynamics, Trump’s peace narrative appears to serve multiple strategic ends. While it may attract international praise, it simultaneously reinforces U.S. influence — particularly as a counterweight to China and Russia.
To me, this shift seems less like an ethical transformation and more like a geopolitical recalibration.
“When the tyrant speaks of peace, know that his hands are either tired — or plotting.” With Trump, it may well be both.
A World in Transition — But to What End?
We may be witnessing a global reset — or a highly calculated illusion of one. Trump’s recent moves are wrapped in the language of peace, but grounded in the machinery of power politics.
Whether history remembers him as a transformative peacemaker or a cunning tactician cloaked in diplomacy remains to be seen. What’s clear is this: peace under Trump comes on America’s terms — and always with a strategic price tag.
