In a compelling interview with journalist Pierre Haski, former French Foreign Minister and Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin reflects on the significant geopolitical transformations currently reshaping the global landscape. He highlights the surprising resurgence of power politics, mainly driven by the rivalry among major empires like the U.S., China, and Russia, which he argues has led to a weakening of established international norms and institutions. De Villepin's insights resonate strongly in the context of today's shifting dynamics where traditional diplomatic channels seem increasingly overshadowed by brute power struggles.

Throughout the conversation, de Villepin articulates a sense of alarm over what he perceives as the decline of an old international order, emphasizing the importance of law, discourse, and political resistance alongside the mere application of force. The interview unfolds as a 'political manifesto' that diagnoses the twilight of the existing global system, with de Villepin’s warnings underscoring the precariousness of current international relations. He argues that the world is witnessing a significant pivot, where the role of diplomacy is being supplanted by forceful geopolitics, thus necessitating a reevaluation of approaches to governance and global interactions.

A particularly striking point made by de Villepin is his view on the return of Donald Trump to power in the U.S., which he characterizes not just as an administrative shift but as a clear signal marking the end of traditional diplomacy as we know it. This 'Trump earthquake', according to de Villepin, has fundamentally altered the international landscape, leading to increased instability and challenging the remaining vestiges of cooperative international governance. His reflections call for a renewed focus on the essential tools of diplomacy, compromise, and the value of political resistance in the face of overwhelming power politics.