This dissertation explores the evolving nature of trust within and between international organizations using a multilevel, mixed-methods approach. Trust has long been a cornerstone of international business research, yet societal and technological transformations necessitate further inquiry into how it is built, managed, and sustained in contemporary business environments. This dissertation is comprised of two interrelated essays that examine trust dynamics in distinct international business contexts, and each offers theoretical, methodological, and practical contributions. The first essay investigates the interactions between U.S. and China-based multinational enterprises operating in Africa. Drawing upon the concept of co-opetition—the simultaneous competition and collaboration between firms—this study develops a "Dynamic Co-opetition Model" that maps industries based on their levels of trust-based collaboration and strategic competition, and a “Co-opetition Matrix” which plots various business industries based on their balance of collaborative and competitive business activities. The second essay examines the impact of artificial intelligence implementation on intra-organizational trust within service-oriented firms. Through a quantitative analysis, it evaluates how artificial intelligence alters relationships along the service-profit chain, affecting trust between supervisors, employees, and customers. This study contributes to the understanding of technology-driven organizational change, demonstrating that artificial intelligence adoption necessitates shifts in managerial strategies to sustain trust within service ecosystems. Collectively, this dissertation contributes to both international business and management scholarship by advancing theoretical frameworks on trust in global business environments, employing both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to analyze trust at multiple levels. It also offers actionable insights for business practitioners, emphasizing the importance of trust as a dynamic and context-dependent factor that influences firm strategies, stakeholder relationships, and long-term success in international markets.