The Spanish philosopher George Santayana said, "Those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it." Today's global political landscape seems to be forcibly taking us back to the 5th century BC, revealing a striking similarity between the logic of power in ancient Greece and the approaches adopted by President Trump's administration.
In his book "History of the Peloponnesian War," the historian and military leader Thucydides recounts the details of the famous "Milyan Dialogue," in which the Athenians confronted the vulnerable inhabitants of the island of Melos with a logic devoid of morality: "The strong do what they can, and the weak suffer what they must."
This historical logic has found a clear echo in the language of the Trump administration. In January, when discussing unilateral military interventions, these actions were described as a reflection of the "iron laws" that govern the balance of power. White House adviser Stephen Miller was no less blunt when he declared that we live in a world "governed by force, coercion and power."
Trump didn't just adopt this logic theoretically; he applied it in his handling of international issues:
Greenland and Denmark: Treating state sovereignty with a logic of acquisition and control.
Cuba and Iran: The direct threat that, on April 7, reached the point of brandishing the threat of "annihilating the entire Iranian civilisation" — a discourse that transcends political disagreement and descends into the logic of total destruction that Milos faced in the past.
A superpower, however powerful, cannot exist in a vacuum. Trump's insistence on the notion that "we don't need anyone's help" is a recipe for international isolation. The United States, which contributed to building the international order after World War II, now risks remaining alone in a chaotic system without allies or friends.
History tells us that political arrogance and the excessive use of force have always been precursors to tragic ends. Thucydides recorded how Athens' excessive ambition and reckless expansion led to its destruction and the extinguishing of the flame of Greek civilisation.
Is Trump leading Americans towards a similar fate? Will the sole superpower become a victim of the very logic it tried to impose on the world? History is watching, and the answer lies in the ability of leaders to learn from history before it is too late.
Sadiq Mohammed Saeed al Lawati
The author is a former training manager (PDO)
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