By Vivekananda Pattanayak in Bhubaneswar, February 2, 2026: If one goes back into history between the thirties and forties of the last century there was rise of Hitler in Germany. First, he seized absolute power wrecking the Weimar constitution. He had no respect for the Covenant of the League of Nations, a world body created to establish peace. One after another, he forcibly and aggressively occupied sovereign independent nations in Europe.

A defeated country of the First World War became the master of Europe. Championing the Aryan supremacy he persecuted Jews. To bring purity among the Europeans, he eliminated Romani people, racial minorities, gay, lesbians, physically handicapped etc.

After Trump came to power in the first term in the name of MAGA and America first, he urged the US companies to come back to America from China and other countries. His tariff threat against China received equal and opposite response. He was singularly responsible for paralysing WTO. During the Covid period he withdrew from WHO blaming its DG, an Ethiopian. In his first term he called UN body a merry-making Club in New York.

Now he has scant respect for the UN and its Charter having left UNSECO and abandoned the Climate accord. In the election against Biden although he lost, he organized acriminal assault on the Congress in full view of the world. He has the unique record of having been impeached twice. After his election against Kamala Harris, on the day of his assumption as President he pardoned all the convicted rioters.

He has attacked Iran, Yemen, Nigeria, Syria, and Somalia, and abducted President Maduro and his wife by making military operation, brazenly hit vessels in the Caribbean Sea and elsewhere on unproven grounds of narco-trafficking. Not satisfied with that he is threatening Colombia and Cuba. Now he states that he would take Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, a NATO member, “one way or other.” When the members of BRICS joined hands to have trade among themselves with their own currencies, he threatened to sanction these countries.When the International Criminal Court issued warrant against Netanyahu he threatened sanctions against the judges of the Court.

He humiliated Zelensky in full view of the world. He made similar attempt with the South African President, Ramphosa. Hitler’s behaviour towards Neville Chamberlain was similar during negotiation on the issue of the Sudeten Germans. In US today in the name of MAGA,Trump has begun a process which can be described as White Supremacy. In his first term after inhuman killing of Black man by white police officer in Minneapolis the movement “Blackman’s life matters” exposed instability of the American society.

Trump’s covert and overt action aggravated racial division. Needless to remind his prejudice against Latins by his outrageous statements against them during his first election campaign and subsequent effort to raise a wall on the Mexican border. His statement that most of the NATO members have large population of immigrants shows the reason he is cold towards NATO. His deployment of federal troops to weed out immigrants in the States has sparked off resentment in many states. Locals have agitated against shooting of innocents. His palpable animosity against not-white population has even gone to question well-established principle of jus soli in matter of citizenship.

Trump has the support of the Senate and House of Representatives, both houses of the Congress described as trifecta in political jargon .The Supreme Court has not been able to contain him so far partly because of the Republican majority in the Court, a reminder to all democracies in the world thatexecutive’s unfettered power of appointing judges known aspacking of apex courts can be injurious to the “idea of justice” . The very fact the lower courts give relief to the affected reveal that that sanity still exists in the American society. Another redeeming feature in the so-called “oldest democracy” is that the American media have been criticizing him except FOX channel and some right-wingnews sources.This is something to be learnt by the “fourth estate” in other democracies. The Western media who swiftly condemns any oddity in the Orient has remained largely passive.

Hisunabashed pugnacity reflecting imperialistic and colonial inclination is indeed an alarming concern for the world in generaland the global South in particular as this was how Hitler behaved and joined by Mussolini and Tojotook the world to the devastating Second World War.

The global peace is too precious to be ignored by people across every country no matter to what race, ethnicity, religion, sect, or nationality they belong. For the Global South who have experienced centuries of imperialism and colonialism it is even more dangerous phenomenon.

Those who survived two World Wars in Europe,and their progenies know the extent of suffering they endured. Wars in Korea, Congo, Vietnam, Iraq, Palestine, the Indian Sub-continent, Afghanistan, Sudan, Libya and Syria have taken heavy toll of lives. Civilians and soldiers have their families and near and dear ones. Destruction of assets created over decades and centuries contributing towards global wealth are irreplaceable. Modern wars even contribute more to global environmental pollution.

First, people of America must wake up to stopthis outrageous,dictatorial,and uncivilized conduct.The sane members of Republican Party must raise their voice.There are manycourageous liberal minded Democratswho can eloquently make their protests.Iconic corporate executives,respected members of civil society including filmdom and sports world,and academia must be more outspoken than they are at present. In Europe people should be more vociferous and vocal.Voice should be heard in the newspapers,radio,television, and social media and also in streets.

While becoming conscious of what is being done by Trump in spreading,racism,communalism, jingoism,ultra conservatism and divisionism,the national leaders in the Orient must also wake up to the modern world of governance based on democracy meaning people’s will through fair and free election,separation of
power,federalism,decentralization of power,freedom of media,autonomy of academia,and vibrancy of civil society must not only respected but encouraged openly.

Leaders must also realize that they must distance themselves from wealthy, make sincere effort to uplift poor reduce inequality and prevent oligarchy or plutocracy to grow and protect minority and women and children,old and infirm.Then only they will have legitimacy and moral authority to resist growing dictatorship of one man.

Let us not try to reinvent the wheel.The Unite Nations and its agencies, including Bretton Wood institutions must not be abandoned but they must be respected, reinvigorated, and strengthened. America alone cannot choke the UN its system.

If US under Trump does not wake up, the UN headquarter can be shifted to Switzerland, a neutral country or any other country which has been hosting a specialized agency like Canada, France, Kenya, Italy, Spain, UK or any other country willing and capable of hosting an international organization.

However much Trump may wrestle with his MAGA idea, BRICS must become more vibrant by developing a multilateral legal instrument and create its own secretariat.Dependence on dollar for trade must cease. Alternative to SWIFT must be found.

A bully cannot be allowed to upset the apple cart.