Editorial
The first two weeks of January 2026 delivered a stark reality check to those who believed that the unipolar world order had ended. Developments during these fifteen days underscored a hard truth: the United States remains the sole global power capable of shaking the world with a single decision or statement.
From reports of the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro along with his wife from their residence to open calls encouraging protesters to seize control of Iran’s institutions, Washington demonstrated its unmatched ability to influence events far beyond its borders. At the same time, President Donald Trump openly expressed ambitions to seize Greenland from Denmark and spoke decisively about determining Somalia’s fate—assertions few other states could make without provoking global upheaval.
In contrast, China continues to project caution. As its Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated on January 5, Beijing pursues a foreign policy based on partnerships rather than alliances. The spokesperson explicitly rejected the possibility of providing Iran with any security guarantees, signaling China’s reluctance to confront the United States directly.
President Trump, meanwhile, overtly encouraged Iranian protesters to intensify their movement, promising that “help is on the way.” In a post on Truth Social, he wrote:
“Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY. MIGA!!”
The White House subsequently confirmed that military action against Iran was “on the table” as President Trump weighed his options following the regime’s violent crackdown on what it described as the country’s largest protests in years. Trump again reiterated that assistance to protesters was imminent.
Iran and Venezuela are among the major oil suppliers to China, providing crude in Chinese currency at rates cheaper than the international market. The third such supplier is Russia. However, the dream of de-dollarization has historically come at a heavy cost. Libya’s former leader Muammar Qaddafi paid for it with his life, and Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro appears to have met a similar fate.
The message is unmistakable: countries within blocs such as BRICS that challenge the dollar-centric global order are being warned to realign with the United States before it is too late—before regime change, color revolutions, or external intervention are unleashed within their borders.
