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A DANGEROUS GAME
From the way things are shaping up in the White House, President Donald Trump’s legacy will be one of destruction due to his jaded diplomacy and his cynical view of international relations norms. Trump who rose to celebrity status in the U.S. and around the world due in part to the television show, “The Apprentice”, which portrayed him as a deal-maker has become a Presidential deal-breaker in the eyes of many American allies such as Canada, Britain, France and Germany and many others.
No other American President other than Mr. Trump has reversed so many agreements made by his predecessor, Barack Obama in such a short time in office. In his first year in office, President Trump withdrew the U.S.
from the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement; obliterated the program for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA); pulled the U.S. out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement; ridiculed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and slapped taxes on steel and aluminum from Europe, Canada and China.
President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is a major departure from U.S. traditional diplomacy in the region. His moving of the U.S Embassy in the Arnona neighborhood of Jerusalem on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel has shattered decades of US policy toward the Middle East. The decision has been surrounded by all kinds of hyperbole, misconceptions and distortions. It has slammed the door shut on the peace process in the region.
His most dangerous act was to cancel the Iran nuclear arms treaty and has threatened to impose stiffer sanctions on Iran if it refuses to renegotiate a new deal.
The sanctions against Iran could lead to economic isolation of Iran, diminish the quality of life of Iranians, create room for radicalism to breed in the region and thus make the Middle East more dangerous.
The cancelation of the Iran nuclear agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action could spell trouble for U.S. policy in the Middle East and its leadership around the world.
It could also damage the U.S. ability to achieve the diplomatic solutions that are needed for peace and stability in the region. President Trump’s actions have caused the leaders of Palestine to distrust America and could make the world a more dangerous place.
By withdrawing from the Iran deal, Mr. Trump has disrespected the leaders of France, Germany and Britain, who also have signed the agreement.
His actions have triggered bitter recriminations in Iran, as angry Iranian politicians burned the US flag in their legislature. Given the present nature of globalization, several international experts have warned that the United States could pay a heavy price for Trump’s erratic actions.
In addition, pulling out of the agreements signed by former President Obama has signalled to the world that Americans are not trustworthy.
As President, Mr. Trump is within his right to withdraw from any agreements he does not like or if they are flawed. The fact that he has not replaced any of them with substantial or better proposals shows poor leadership and that Mr. Trump seems to be operating under a foreign policy concept that simply panders to the prejudices of his ultra-right wing supporters in America. For example, his claim that the authorities in Iran have not been abiding by the nuclear deal has not been substantiated by United Nations inspectors.
American and international intelligence sources have attested that Iran has not violated the agreement. It is clear that Mr. Trump’s ultimate goal is to undermine the legacy of his predecessor, Barack Obama, for whom the Iranian accord was a signature diplomatic achievement. It speaks to his disdain for Mr. Obama, whom he said was not born in the U.S. Guyana and the Caribbean should be concerned because President Trump’s actions could lead to renewed tensions in the Middle East and a rise in the price of oil which could threaten the Guyana’s economy and thus affect us.
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