The political landscape is increasingly shaped by the decisions of three influential yet aging leaders: Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. At 79, 75, and 86 years old though, these titans are entering times crucial not just in their careers but for these institutions. Their inaction could lead to massively negative impacts globally. Their contentious conduct and doubtful judgment should send shivers up America’s spine as to whether they could handle sensitive, challenging issues of international relations.
Donald Trump has been rightly attacked for his incoherent foreign policy. His indecisive and flaccid approach has left him open to being rolled by stronger personalities, like Netanyahu. The controversial decisions the former U.S. president took in 2023. Critics, both Israeli and Palestinian, have condemned him for not doing enough to protect Israelis from terror attack, asserting that he shirked duty at a crucial juncture.
In the context of this trial, Netanyahu’s repeated demands for an all-out attack on Iran represents his hawkish stance. Trump’s willingness to comply with Netanyahu’s demands is part of a dangerous pattern. It plays into the narrative that the U.S. is caving to Israeli pressure. This worrying dependency highlights a larger trend in American foreign policy and its negative impact on global stability.
Khamenei, as Iran’s supreme leader, is one of the key figures in guiding Tehran’s nuclear pursuits. His regime is weaker after last year’s Israeli military campaign and this week’s rout of its ally Hezbollah in Lebanon. Despite facing internal pressures from reformers, Khamenei continues to promote an aggressive stance against perceived adversaries, including the United States, Britain, and France.
Iran’s threats to retaliate by attacking Western military bases or ships run the risk of escalating conflict in an already tense region. The risk of miscalculation leading to a full-scale war grows deeper as these increasingly frail leaders fight to determine who they are on the global stage. Their decisions may very well spark a worldwide energy crisis, adding to the already precarious international economic landscape.
Netanyahu’s aspirations to completely dismantle Iran’s nuclear program are increasingly viewed as unrealistic. His actions to ally the U.S. strongly with Israel’s enemies do not obviously lead to the conclusion that he isn’t working day and night to ensure Israel’s security. All the while, he’s under unprecedented political pressure from continuing war crime indictments in Gaza.
Trump’s record has drawn scrutiny as well. Critics have called him a “total menace.” They cite his history of advancing anti-U.S. interests to ingratiate himself with people like Vladimir Putin. His lumber tariffs and approach to international agreements have raised questions about his judgment. This skepticism deepened after he wasn’t able to broker even a temporary ceasefire during the war in Gaza.
The unfortunate confluence of these three, increasingly powerful figures poses a deeply troubling reality. This collective behavior on a very serious issue raises profound questions about their judgment and motives. As critics like Fareed Zakaria and Andrew Sullivan call them angry old men who, through their actions, threaten millions of people around the world.
Yet with the stakes rising as US-China-Russian geopolitical tensions flare, the triangle among Trump, Netanyahu, and Khamenei is becoming ever-moret rickety. The impact of their choices goes far beyond the immediate borders of their two nations and could determine the future of peace and security around the world.