Eighty years ago, on February 4, , the Yalta Conference brought together the leaders of the anti-Hitler coalition to lay the groundwork for the post-war world order. This was a landmark event that shaped global relations for decades.
While the Helsinki Final Act of marked another milestone, it was an extension of Yalta's principles rather than a new foundation. Since the end of the Cold War, however, there have been no binding agreements that define the global order.
The world has changed fundamentally, and the current dynamics make it unlikely that a similar agreement could be reached. The unraveling of established norms and increasing geopolitical competition have sparked calls for a "new Yalta" - a grand treaty to establish principles for today's reality. On one hand, Trump's rhetoric often undermines the remnants of the old rules.
On the other, he has a penchant for striking deals. But can a new grand bargain really emerge? Trump's approach to deal-making prioritizes monetary gain and situational advantage over comprehensive, long-term solutions. His understanding of agreements is transactional, lacking the vision required for a treaty on the scale of Yalta. Yet this is not solely about Trump.
The Yalta-Potsdam agreements emerged from the ashes of a global war, with victorious powers jointly dismantling the challenger to world domination. This unprecedented collaboration gave the Allies the moral and political authority to shape the world order.
