Global Affairs in the Age of Trump 2.0
James W.Carden and Pietro A. Shakarian assess Trump 2.0’s “Donroe Doctrine” framing as branding for coercive, deal-driven policy, then widen the lens to the collapse of “rules-based order” language and the rise of pay-to-play influence concepts like Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace.” The conversation turns to Iran, where escalating pressure, shifting demands, and regional signaling raise the risk of conflict and spillover effects for Armenia. The episode closes on JD Vance’s planned Armenia-Azerbaijan trip, how Moscow and Tehran may read it, and how corridor politics (TRIPP) and Armenia’s church-state confrontation shape the stakes.
Topics
Trump 2.0 and the “Donroe Doctrine”
Rules-Based Disorder?
Iran vs. the “Big, Beautiful Armada”
US Cohesion and Midterms
JD Vance in the South Caucasus
Guests
Hosts
Episode 515 | Recorded: February 6, 2026
SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/515
