Trump against Rocket Man and for United Nations reform
‘’International panorama’’ from a Soviet-Russian diplomat Yulduz Khaliullin. In the wake of Trump's speech in the UN
The 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly has recently taken place in New York. As expected, there were many loud statements, diplomatic barbs and interesting meetings. A Soviet-Russian diplomat Yulduz Khaliullin in the newspaper column written for Realnoe Vremya draws attention to the scandalous speech of American President Trump. He also gives a review of the world's media and statements of the leaders who reacted to the speech by the head of the White House.
Global Trumpism attempts
New York hosted the annual session of the UN General Assembly, which traditionally begins with the speeches of the heads of delegations of the participating countries. The speech of the US President Donald Trump was in the highlight, it had been advertised in advance by the State Department of the United States.
The US leader presented 10 points on restructuring the UN. He wants change for this world organization. In his opinion, the United Nations due to bureaucracy and bad management does not cope with its tasks. By the way, about 70 countries of the UN opposed these proposals. Even three members of the Security Council (Russia, China and France) out of five did not support the statements of Trump.
Along with this, the statements of the US President were full of threats against a number of countries, primarily North Korea, Iran and Venezuela.
I will begin with an assessment of a correspondent of the leading American TV channel CNN Veronica Rocha, ''In his 41-minute address, Trump vowed to ''totally destroy North Korea'' if the US and its allies were forced defend themselves.'' Although he expressed hope that it won't be necessary.
''Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime,'' Trump said. He called Iran ''a corrupt dictatorship'' and Trump believes the international agreement with Tehran on nuclear issues the worst document that the United States ever signed. He further lashed out at Venezuela, calling the current government and President Nicolás Maduro a ''corrupt regime''.
It is no wonder that after Trump's speech only Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, who was in the General Assembly with his wife, praised his speech. He said, ''In over 30 years in my experience with the UN, I never heard a bolder or more courageous speech.'' He was particularly inspired by the assessment of the current Iranian regime, noting that the views of the two countries coincide.
''This is global Trumpism,'' briefly characterized a reporter for CNN Stephen Collinson.
''And while Trump laid the foundations of the theory of global Trumpism — his philosophizing was laden with contradictions.
His apparent relegation of values like human rights and democracy promotion appears to ignore the moral leadership role that Washington has played in the Western alliance in the 70 years since,'' noted the reporter at CNN.
The echo of American speech
The US withdrawal from the international agreement on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) opens, first, a direct path to dominate in this important region of China — the main economic and political rival of the Americans in world politics. Second, economic sanctions that the US are ready to impose against those countries that have trade and economic ties with North Korea are hardly feasible in practice, at least for the reason that the annual volume of American trade turnover with China (a partner of North Korea) is about $ 700 billion, which corresponds to Washington's annual expenditures for defense. Third, the aggravation of the political situation around Tehran and Pyongyang becomes the key problematics of the foreign policy of Donald Trump.
In this regard, I will refer to President of France Emmanuel Macron, who on the sidelines in the UN and in his speech explicitly stated that maintaining the international agreement on nuclear weapons with Tehran is consistent with the interests of all countries. Its cancellation can lead to serious complications.
''To reject it now without proposing anything else would be a grave error,'' he said. By the way, Macron attended the UN General Assembly for the first time, what is more — as President of France.
As it is known, Trump in his speech called the regime of Iran a corrupt dictatorship. By the way, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran Javad Zarif, who heads his country's delegation at the General Assembly, immediately noted that ''Trump's ignorant hate speech belongs in medieval times'', and not the UN.
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Margot Wallström in conversation with a correspondent of BBC said that the speech of Donald Trump was absolutely unfair. And it was delivered at the wrong time.
Speaking about Venezuela, Trump said its current government is a corrupt socialist dictatorship and stressed that the US are ready to take appropriate action against it. Here the clear response of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela, who immediately rejected the threats:
''Trump is not the president of the world… he can not even manage his own government.''
Bolivian President Evo Morales defending the interests of friendly Venezuela added, ''I am not surprised that a multi-millionaire like Trump attacks socialism. Our struggle will always be ideological and pragmatic.''
Almost 10 days after Trump's speech at the UN General Assembly North Korea published in English (rare) the words of its leader.
Kim Jong-un calling Trump ''mentally deranged'' stated, ''His remarks… have convinced me, rather than frightening or stopping me, that the path I chose is correct and that it is the one I have to follow to the last.'' BBC noted that it is the first statement in English from Pyongyang.
Russian response to Trump
In conclusion I would like to emphasize that the UN is the largest and the most convenient centre for countless international meetings and exchange of views for the leaders and foreign ministers from more than 200 countries. According to my estimates, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in 10 days had over a hundred such meetings with many senior officials — members of the UN General Assembly. Besides, Sergey Lavrov met with US Secretary of State. At such private meetings they usually discuss acute issues of bilateral relations and the international situation.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly, Lavrov reminded the delegates that it was adopted the resolution on promotion of democratic and equitable world order. It clearly states on inadmissibility of intervention in internal affairs of sovereign states, non-recognition of coups to change a regime, the need to exclude the pressure of some states on others.
''It is gratifying that President of the United States Donald Trump said about the importance of observing the principles of sovereignty in international affairs. About that we need to provide the leadership by example, not dictate to other countries and work hand in hand based on mutual respect,'' said the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry. In his opinion, everyone is ready to sigh under these words.
He also said, ''The confrontation spiral is dangerously unwinding around North Korea. Strongly condemning the missile and nuclear adventurism of North Korea, Russia is convinced that the injection of war hysteria is a destructive path.'' Lavrov added that ''all security council resolutions in relation to North Korea, along with the sanctions, contain provisions on the need to return to negotiations. Russia urges to stop blocking these provisions and support the road map outlined in the joint statement of the Foreign Ministry of China and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation as of 4 July.''