The Art of the Geopolitical Deal - Trump is in Charge
Sovereign Nation Concept within the confines of Superpower Rivalry
How Trump's Business Playbook Is Reshaping Sovereignty in the Age of Dedollarization:
On January 15, 2026, U.S. forces boarded and seized the oil tanker Veronica in the Caribbean Sea—the sixth such operation in recent weeks under Operation Southern Spear. This predawn boarding, executed without incident by the U.S. military's Southern Command, targeted a vessel linked to sanctioned Venezuelan oil trade. It exemplifies the Trump administration's aggressive enforcement of a quarantine on dark fleet tankers imposed in December 2025. These actions occur against a broader backdrop: the U.S. has begun selling seized Venezuelan crude, completing its first $500 million deal just yesterday, with proceeds held in controlled accounts. President Trump has styled himself—humorously or provocatively—as the acting president of Venezuela in social media posts, while praising a very good call with interim leader Delcy Rodríguez, whom he called terrific. Meanwhile, tensions simmer over Greenland, where European deployments counter U.S. strategic pushes, and pressure mounts on Cuba as Venezuelan oil flows are redirected. These moves raise profound questions: Is the post-World War II rules-based international order bending under a distinctly Trumpian approach—one rooted in his decades as a deal-making businessman? This article argues that Trump's geopolitical strategy mirrors the tactics he honed in high-stakes real estate and casino deals: identify leverage, assemble teams of lawyers and fixers, exploit legal gray areas, and redefine outcomes without outright violation of rules. In an era of dedollarization threats from BRICS nations, this playbook protects U.S. dollar supremacy while reshaping notions of sovereignty.
Trump's Business Roots: Mastering Leverage:
Donald Trump's business career was defined by relentless pursuit of advantage, often through legal maneuvering and personal pressure. A prime example is his 1980s battle for Resorts International, the first casino in Atlantic City outside Nevada. Trump outbid oil tycoon Marvin Davis, who had offered far more for the property after previously snatching the Beverly Hills Hotel from Trump's grasp. Davis attempted to persuade key partners—the Crosby and Murphy families—to renege on their agreement with Trump. They refused, and the New Jersey Casino Control Commission approved Trump's deal. Trump later quipped about Davis's weight and priorities, a remark he regretted but one that revealed his unapologetic style: leverage loyalty, regulatory approval, and blunt negotiation to win. Similar patterns appear elsewhere. In Australia, Trump aggressively pursued a Sydney casino license in the 1980s, but was ultimately blocked amid concerns over ties and suitability—illustrating the risks of hardball tactics; Trump decided to focus on his own backyard. His decades-long chase for a Trump Tower in Moscow, though never completed, showed persistent use of local partners to create leverage. The core lesson: Build Team A (lawyers and diplomats for legitimacy) and Team B (fixers or enforcers for pressure), while staying just inside legal lines.
The Geopolitical Arena: Same Playbook, Bigger Stakes Today
Trump applies this model on a global scale, countering threats to the U.S. dollar's reserve status as BRICS nations push oil trade in alternative currencies. Venezuela serves as the clearest case study. Following political shifts—including Maduro's reported capture and Delcy Rodríguez's interim leadership—the U.S. has forged pragmatic cooperation. Rodríguez's government assists in locating sanctioned tankers, enabling seizures like the Veronica. Redirected oil is sold under U.S. oversight, with the recent $500 million transaction marking the first of many. Trump claims this arrangement allows U.S. control of Venezuelan oil for years, stabilizing flows while bolstering dollar-denominated trade. This extends across the Western Hemisphere. Cuba faces economic strain as Venezuelan supplies are cut off. In the Arctic, Greenland tensions persist, with Trump renewing strategic interest amid European countermeasures and local opposition to U.S. influence. High-seas boardings exploit ambiguities in international law, where enforcement of sanctions often evades traditional maritime rules. Proceeds flow to controlled accounts, mirroring how Trump once used courts and commissions to secure business wins.
Staying in the Gray: Legal Leverage Without Breaking Rules
Trump's approach thrives in ambiguity. Sanctions enforcement on the high seas, diplomatic outreach to former adversaries like Rodríguez, and economic redirection—all aggressive yet framed within existing U.S. legal frameworks. No outright invasion, no declared war, but facts on the ground shift dramatically. This parallels his business era: outmaneuver rivals through regulators, loyalty, and pressure, without crossing into illegality.
Conclusion:
Redefining Sovereignty in a Multipolar World
Trump's Art of the Deal transposed to geopolitics is yielding results: leverage over Venezuelan resources without physical occupation, strategic positioning in Greenland amid great-power competition, and countermeasures against dedollarization. Sovereignty, once absolute, now appears negotiable—reshaped by economic coercion, legal gray zones, and pragmatic alliances. In a rising multipolar order, this model asserts American interests boldly. Whether it strengthens the U.S. position long-term or erodes the rules-based order remains the central debate. One thing is clear: Trump's business inclinations have gone global, and the world is adjusting.
“Enjoy it for infinity, I guess” …. DJT