Author: Mohamad Mrad

The global economy isn’t just moving it’s shifting under the weight of geopolitical power plays

The markets won’t move in isolation; geopolitics will add layers of complexity. As the U.S. focuses on reducing free trade and reshoring industries, other nations will adapt—or suffer.

• China: The target of many of Trump’s moves. By cutting reliance on Chinese supply chains, the U.S. will pressure Beijing economically. Expect more skirmishes—currency wars, tech bans, and trade stand-offs—but no full-scale conflict. The goal is to contain China, not destroy it.
• Europe: Facing an energy crisis, Europe will find itself caught between the U.S. and other powers. Without cheap energy or competitive production, Europe could struggle to find buyers for its exports, risking a Greece-like scenario across the continent.
• Emerging Markets: These economies, often reliant on dollar debt and exports, will feel the pinch. Stronger U.S. manufacturing means less demand for foreign goods, while a strong dollar increases the cost of borrowing.

For decades, the U.S. treated free trade like a religion. Post-Cold War, the strategy was simple: integrate as much of the world as possible into a free-market system, where trade would bind economies together and prevent conflicts. GDP growth would flow like a rising tide, lifting everyone in its path. In theory, it was a beautiful vision. In practice? A disaster waiting to happen.

Look at where we are now. Outsourcing, hollowed out entire industries, leaving communities across the country in economic ruin. Dependence on global supply chains exposed vulnerabilities the US didn’t even know they had, until a pandemic and geopolitical spats made it painfully clear. Meanwhile, other nations, especially China, played a different game. They took advantage of open markets, built their industries, and wielded state-directed economic power like a weapon. The US wanted global interdependence; they wanted dominance. Guess who won that round?

Now, economists are scrambling to pivot, and “economic statecraft” has re-entered the conversation like a long-lost hero. Funny how the policies the US perfected before World War II are suddenly chic again. Back then, tariffs, controlled trade, and industrial policy weren’t dirty words. They were how America built its powerhouse economy. Instead of dreaming about perfect markets, US played hardball: protecting domestic industries, prioritizing national strength, and using trade as a tool for strategic advantage.

Even Trump, with all his bombast, understood this on some level. His calls for tariffs and reshoring were mocked at the time, but now? Even his critics are reluctantly admitting he wasn’t entirely wrong. The idea of wielding economic policy to serve national interests feels less like “protectionist nonsense” and more like common sense.

Free trade isn’t dead, nor should it be. The goal isn’t to isolate the US markets or roll back globalization entirely. It’s to recalibrate. To trade where it serves, to protect where it must, and to wield economic tools strategically, just like they did when America was on the rise. The post-Cold War experiment didn’t work. It’s time to own up to that and stop letting ideological purity dictate policy.

If America is to reclaim its economic and geopolitical edge, they need to learn from their history, not run from it. Pre-WWII America didn’t see economics as separate from statecraft, it saw it as the foundation of power. They would do well to remember that lesson as the larget economy in the world chart its path forward.

Why Just grow GDP; when you can use it as a weapon, a shield, and a strategy. The world’s playing chess.

The Art of Economic Statecraft: Trump’s Bold Moves and Global Power Shifts

Economic statecraft isn’t just about numbers on a GDP chart, it’s about influence, control, and positioning. Donald Trump, for all the controversy he stirs, understood this better than most modern leaders. His approach to Canada, Mexico, the Panama Canal, and even Greenland wasn’t just political theater; it is a deliberate recalibration of power dynamics. Trump’s strategy might not be wrapped in diplomatic niceties, but as Machiavelli said, “It is better to be feared than loved if you cannot be both.”

Greenland: The Next Frontier in Statecraft

Why Greenland? It’s not just an icy expanse. This island is a geopolitical prize, rich in mineral wealth, critical for polar oil exploration, and strategically located near Russia and China. It’s also a potential game-changer for Arctic shipping routes as the ice melts. Greenland, already chafing under Danish rule, knows Europe isn’t strong enough to protect it from encroaching superpowers. Trump’s interest in purchasing Greenland was ridiculed at the time, but in reality, it was a savvy extension of the Monroe Doctrine. Securing Greenland would not only shield the U.S. from Russian and Chinese ambitions but also solidify American dominance in the Arctic.

Panama Canal: A Forgotten Battleground

The Panama Canal, once a symbol of American ingenuity is now an overlooked flashpoint. Built by the U.S. after the French failed, the canal represents the lifeblood of global shipping. Yet today, Chinese companies hold stakes at both ends of the canal. Combine that with growing Chinese and Russian naval presence, and you can see why Trump sounded the alarm. If adversarial nations gain control over this critical chokepoint, the U.S. loses leverage. Trump’s brand of statecraft isn’t just about tariffs and deals, it’s about reasserting control over assets that are vital to America’s security and economy.

Canada and Mexico: The Back Doors to America

For decades, Canada and Mexico have been treated as friendly neighbors in trade and security. Trump shattered that illusion. His renegotiation of NAFTA into the USMCA wasn’t just about jobs or manufacturing, it was about cutting off backdoors for Chinese goods and protecting American markets. Mexico and Canada, though allies, also represent vulnerabilities in the global chess game. Trump’s aggressive stance was a wake-up call: these neighbors aren’t just friends; they’re strategic gateways that must be defended.

The China Question: Supremacy or Skirmishes?

China looms large in Trump’s grand strategy. His tariffs and trade wars weren’t just economic tactics—they were strategic moves in a larger power play. The Pentagon and the presidency share one goal: maintaining U.S. supremacy. Without a dominant “top dog,” the world descends into chaos. Equal powers don’t coexist peacefully, they compete, they clash, and they bite.

China’s economic rise isn’t just about GDP growth, it’s about control of upstream and downstream logistics, technological supremacy, and the ability to dictate global terms. Trump’s tariffs were a blunt but effective tool to disrupt China’s ambitions. By targeting supply chains and forcing American companies to rethink their reliance on China, he aimed to restructure not just the U.S. economy but the global one.

So, what’s the goal? To force China into a corner where they’ll accept a U.S.-led global order. This isn’t about avoiding conflict altogether, it’s about skirmishes that demonstrate strength and resolve. Submarines may move around, and the risk of escalation exists, but full-scale war is unlikely. Trump’s vision, whether you love it or hate it, is peace through strength. Restructure the system, hold the line, and let the world know who’s in charge.

The Bigger Picture: Economic Statecraft as Survival

This isn’t just about Trump, it’s about a return to economic statecraft as the foundation of American power. The post-Cold War dream of peaceful globalization has failed. Free trade, unchecked, has gutted industries and handed leverage to rivals. The future of U.S. power lies in recalibrating these dynamics: controlling trade, protecting critical assets, and leveraging every tool to maintain global dominance.

Without a top dog, the world fractures. Trump’s approach, rooted in economic statecraft, reminds us that peace isn’t the absence of conflict it’s the result of power, strategy, and resolve. Whether or not his vision is fully realized, it’s clear that the old rules no longer apply. It’s time for America to write new ones.

Europe’s Crossroads: Energy, Economics, and the Red-Blue Divide

Europe, a mosaic of nations with a thousand histories and even more opinions, is at a breaking point. The old world order that carried the continent through the post-Cold War era—stability, cheap energy, and reliable markets—has crumbled. Russia’s war in Ukraine laid bare the fragility of Europe’s energy infrastructure, while economic realities are forcing governments to make choices that echo wartime strategies.

Yet here’s the twist: Europe’s response to this crisis isn’t unified. It can’t be. The continent’s diverse cultures, politics, and economic interests make a single “European response” impossible. Add to that the political fragmentation between the middle-class Democrats and the worker-class conservatives, and you get a region struggling to define its identity in an increasingly hostile world.

Energy Crisis: Between Russia and America

Europe is learning a hard lesson: energy independence is a myth. For decades, cheap Russian gas powered European industries, keeping production costs low and GDP growth steady. That’s over. The war in Ukraine forced Europe to sever ties with Russia, leaving it scrambling for alternatives. U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) has filled some of the gap, but at a price—both economically and politically. Energy prices are now set by Moscow and Washington, not Brussels or Berlin.

This dependency weakens Europe’s leverage. As energy prices remain volatile, European industries face a grim reality: higher costs mean higher prices, and higher prices mean fewer buyers. Even if the euro is weakened to make exports more attractive, who’s buying? The global economy is tightening, and Europe is struggling to compete. The ghost of Greece a nation crippled by debt and austerity looms over the continent. Could Europe go the same way, one nation at a time?

Economic Survival: A Wartime Playbook for Peacetime

Europe isn’t just facing an energy crisis—it’s staring down an economic overhaul. The European Central Bank (ECB), under leaders like Mario Draghi, has sounded the alarm. Draghi’s report last September was blunt: to avoid slipping into irrelevance, Europe needs to spend 5% of its GDP to become “muscular” again.

Five percent. That’s wartime spending in peacetime. To put it into perspective, this is the kind of economic mobilization seen in World War II. Europe needs this level of investment just to stay competitive, to rebuild industries, secure energy supplies, and protect its place on the global stage. Without it, the continent risks becoming a collection of economically stagnant nations reliant on outside powers for survival.

The Political Divide: Middle Class vs. Worker Class

This crisis is as political as it is economic. The middle class—the traditional base for pro-European Union, democratic ideals—remains cautious, leaning toward blue policies that prioritize cooperation and environmental goals. But the worker class, battered by rising costs, falling wages, and job insecurity, is leaning toward the red. Their concerns mirror Trump’s appeal in the U.S.: protectionism, nationalism, and a demand for leaders who prioritize their struggles over abstract ideals.

This divide is sharpening across Europe. It’s not just an economic crisis; it’s a cultural reckoning. Can Europe find a way to bridge the gap between its urban, middle-class elites and its struggling, rural working class? Or will this divide deepen, creating the kind of populist backlash that has already reshaped politics in the U.S. and beyond?

The Grim Future: Greece as a Warning

If Europe doesn’t adapt, the path forward looks grim. Rising debt, declining production, and energy dependency could turn parts of the continent into a patchwork of economic disasters. Greece, once the cautionary tale of the Eurozone, might become the model for what not to do. But unlike Greece, this time there’s no Germany to bail everyone out.

The energy crisis, coupled with weak global demand for European goods, puts the continent in a precarious position. And while 5% of GDP might sound like a lot, it’s a necessary investment to prevent a slow decline into irrelevance. Europe must rebuild its industrial base, secure its energy future, and find a way to reconcile its internal political divides.

A New Playbook for Europe

Europe is at a crossroads. It can cling to old models of globalization and energy dependence, hoping the world resets itself. Or it can embrace a new strategy, one that prioritizes resilience, self-sufficiency, and economic statecraft.

This isn’t just Europe’s crisis; it’s a global one. The post-Cold War dream is over, and every nation is scrambling to adapt. Europe has the resources, talent, and history to survive, but only if it learns the lessons of the past. It’s time to stop pretending peacetime rules apply in a wartime world.

The question isn’t whether Europe can survive. It’s whether it can thrive in a world that no longer plays by the rules it once wrote. The clock is ticking.

The Dollar: Strengthened by Debt and Trade Deficits

Despite critics questioning the dollar’s dominance, the global economy keeps circling back to it. The mechanism is simple: countries trade in dollars, borrow in dollars, and repay debts in you guessed it “dollars”. The more other currencies weaken, the stronger the dollar gets.

Trump’s push to reduce trade deficits by reshoring production could disrupt the flow of dollars abroad. Right now, U.S. deficits send dollars overseas, fueling global liquidity. But if trade deficits shrink as production returns to the U.S., other nations could struggle to access dollars, creating financial pressure in emerging markets.

For U.S. equities? This is good news. A strong dollar will keep capital flowing into the U.S., and American stocks, buoyed by domestic productivity, could surge. Global equities, particularly in dollar-dependent economies, won’t be so lucky. Rising dollar strength paired with economic uncertainty could weigh heavily on foreign markets.

The Micro-Level: Selective Sector Growth

Economic statecraft isn’t just about broad strokes; it’s about targeting industries that can give the U.S. a competitive edge. This means some sectors will thrive while others adapt to new realities.

• Manufacturing: The cornerstone of Trump’s plan. By raising tariffs and incentivizing domestic production, sectors like steel, energy, and automotive could boom. Automation, driven by AI and robotics, will play a key role in keeping costs competitive.
• Technology: As reshoring accelerates, tech companies focused on AI, industrial automation, and supply chain optimization will see massive investment. Think of them as the architects of America’s productivity revival.
• Education and Startups: To sustain this shift, education systems will need overhauls, with startups innovating in AI-driven training, vocational tech, and subsidized industry programs. Think of a modern GI Bill but for factory automation and coding bootcamps.
• Energy: Subsidized green energy and oil exploration will create a dual-front strategy, reducing dependence on foreign sources while keeping costs manageable.
• Consumer Goods: Expect a mix. Domestic production of higher-value goods will thrive, while basic goods could see price inflation as tariffs push up costs.

In essence, sectors tied to reshoring and technological innovation will soar. Those reliant on globalization? They’ll have to pivot or face decline.

Inflation, Interest Rates, and Fiscal Juggling

Reducing free trade while boosting domestic production isn’t just a macroeconomic theory—it has inflationary consequences. Tariffs, reshoring, and massive public investment mean prices will rise in the short term. Here’s where statecraft steps in.

• Inflation Management: Raising tariffs isn’t just protectionism, it’s a calculated move to create temporary price pressures, forcing companies to adapt by opening factories in the U.S. Subsidies and automation will then counteract inflation over time, stabilizing costs.
• Interest Rates: The Federal Reserve might play a balancing act. Low rates could fuel investment in automation and domestic manufacturing, but inflationary pressures may force rate hikes. To counteract this, fiscal policies like tax breaks and targeted spending could come into play.
• Fiscal Deficits: America’s fiscal health will remain a juggling act. Higher spending to rebuild industries will strain deficits, but stronger domestic growth will eventually counterbalance this—provided the statecraft holds.

The result? A new economic model where short-term inflation is traded for long-term productivity and fiscal stability. It’s not without risks, but it’s a necessary reset.

The U.S., by turning inward, will force the rest of the world to recalibrate. Countries will compete for relevance in this new order, with those unable to adapt facing stagnation—or worse.

A Return to Pre-War Productivity

The ultimate goal? To make America a productivity house, much like it was before World War II. Back then, the U.S. didn’t rely on global supply chains or unchecked free trade. It built, innovated, and led. Trump’s strategy is a return to that model, updated for the AI and automation era.

It’s not just about making stuff again it’s about controlling the means of production, strengthening the dollar, and maintaining global dominance. The world isn’t a level playing field, and America, through tariffs, subsidies, and technological leadership, is reminding everyone who writes the rules.

Markets will feel this shift. U.S. equities will thrive, the dollar will strengthen, and domestic industries will boom. Globally, the pain will be uneven, with some nations adapting and others fading. Statecraft isn’t just a buzzword it’s the blueprint for a new economic order.
Every move, whether it’s shifting trade policies, negotiating tariffs, or targeting supply chains, reverberates through markets with high volatility. It’s not just about one stock moving; it’s currencies, commodities, entire sectors, and geopolitics all colliding in a grand chess game of macro strategies.

In these times, grand macro strategies aren’t just theories; they’re survival. They’re about securing the upper hand, dominating the narrative, and ensuring that when the dust settles, the U.S. still holds the high ground economically and geopolitically. The question isn’t whether the map is changing; it’s who gets to redraw it. And right now, the U.S. is making its pen strokes loud and clear.