The United States has shifted its foreign policy focus away from global leadership, instead prioritizing its interests in neighboring regions. This change in approach was evident in 2025, with the country’s actions and rhetoric reflecting a desire to assert its influence in its immediate geographical sphere.

The appointment of Jeff Landry as US Special Envoy for Greenland is a notable example of this shift. Landry’s mandate is to explore the possibility of bringing the autonomous Danish territory into the United States, despite the significant practical and diplomatic obstacles that stand in the way. This move has been met with opposition from Denmark and many Greenlanders, and raises questions about the implications for international law and NATO.

This development is part of a broader trend in US foreign policy, which has moved away from the idea of global leadership and towards a more regionally focused approach. The Trump administration has designated areas such as Greenland, Canada, and the Panama Canal as being of special strategic concern, and has increased pressure on Venezuela to align with US interests.

The new National Security Strategy, released in December, formally revives the Monroe Doctrine as the guiding principle of US foreign policy. This doctrine, first announced in the 19th century, proclaimed the Western Hemisphere to be closed to European intervention and established the United States as a dominant power in the region.

The shift in US foreign policy reflects a changing global landscape, in which the pandemic has exposed the fragility of international connections and the importance of regional security. Other countries, such as Israel and Turkey, are also prioritizing their regional interests and seeking to assert their influence in their immediate neighborhoods.

The implications of this shift are significant, and will likely lead to a more fragmented and competitive global environment. The world is moving away from the idea of universal integration and towards a more regionalized system, in which great powers assert control over their immediate spheres of influence. The United States is leading this transition, and its actions will likely have far-reaching consequences for international relations and global stability.