The order wanes, its spine grown thin,
Where empires once held sway within.
A rising tide, a rival’s claim—
The stage resets, the rules inflame.
China builds with silent might,
While Washington prepares to fight.
Trade once free now wears a chain,
Security the new domain.
Trump ascends with Vance in tow,
In volatile, unscripted show.
Allies shift, the balance reels,
Old accords replaced by deals.
No map expands, no flags unfurl,
Yet power pulses through the world.
Protectionist, the new refrain—
A fiscal shield, a sovereign gain.
Tomorrow’s light may burn too bright,
With eyeballs locked in brink-of-fight.
The past returns, not dressed the same,
But history plays a ruthless game.
M@Foxglove.Taranaki.NZ
Eyeball-to-Eyeball Scenarios
Flashpoints: Taiwan, Ukraine, the South China Sea, and even Venezuela are becoming pressure zones. With Trump’s administration showing a willingness to use force preemptively, miscalculation is a real danger.
Multipolar Tensions: The world is no longer unipolar. As power diffuses, the chance of rival powers testing boundaries increases. If Trump or Vance respond impulsively, escalation could be rapid.
Historical Echoes: Just as Anglo-German rivalry spiraled into WWI amid shifting alliances and economic competition, today’s dynamics could follow a similar path—especially if diplomacy gives way to brinkmanship.