UNITED NATIONS, Feb 04 (IPS) – US President Donald Trump’s ominous menace to take over the Panama Canal and Greenland units the stage for a brand new political battle with the United Nations.
However judging by UN’s observe file of failures—together with the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine — the world physique could lose once more whereas battling a veto-wielding superpower.
Kul Gautam, a former UN Assistant Secretary-Normal and Deputy Government Director of the UN youngsters’s fund UNICEF, instructed IPS Donald Trump’s menace to purchase or take over Greenland, the autonomous territory of Denmark, and to take again the Panama Canal “by army power, if needed”, harks again to the bygone period of the 18th and Nineteenth-century world of lawless, imperial, and colonial growth.
“It must be seen within the context of Trump’s grandiose announcement to pursue America’s “Manifest Future” that was as soon as invoked because the divinely ordained proper of america to develop its borders to the Pacific Ocean and past.”
Such imperial ambition appeals to Trump’s “America First” MAGA supporters however is clearly unlawful and in defiance of the UN Constitution and a whole violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of UN member states, he identified.
“Given Trump’s hubris, erratic nature, and disrespect for each home and worldwide regulation, his menace should be taken critically.”
If Trump dares to amass Greenland and the Panama Canal forcefully, he stated, the UN, EU, OAS, and different teams will all denounce such aggression however might be unable to counter him successfully within the quick run.
“However in the long term, Trump’s insurance policies and actions will alienate America’s closest allies. The US might be remoted globally to the benefit of its adversaries like China and Russia,” Gautam declared.
Any takeover might be in defiance of the UN constitution and in full violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of UN member states.
In response to the United Nations Constitution, described as one of many world’s most seen founding paperwork of the UN, “all member states should respect the sovereignty of different states”. It additionally prohibits the usage of power in opposition to the political independence or territorial integrity of different states.
However the place will the UN stand in opposition to a army superpower– whereas the world physique doesn’t have the means to implement its personal resolutions?
And it harks again to the US invasion of Iraq in March 2003– regardless of opposition on the UN– in quest of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) that didn’t exist?
Dr Alon Ben-Meir, a retired professor of worldwide relations, most not too long ago on the Middle for International Affairs at New York College (NYU), instructed IPS it isn’t solely Democrats but in addition lots of Trump’s supporters are baffled by his arbitrary choice to take one other nation’s territory by power if he “has to,” resembling Greenland and the Panama Canal, which is outrageous to even take into consideration.
“Is there one single sane Trump advisor who can inform him that what he’s considering is a gross violation of worldwide regulation, to unilaterally resolve to take over any land that belongs to different international locations?”
As well as, stated Dr Ben-Meir, it’s terrifying different international locations, making a dreadful feeling about what america represents and the hurt it could actually inflict at this level on different states.
“To counsel that the US can unilaterally take land from a UN member state, or worse but, within the case of Greenland, a NATO member state is nothing in need of folly—to take by power land from one’s allies.”
The US, he identified, is dedicated to upholding territorial integrity, and to assume that Trump can simply take over the Panama Canal and invade Denmark’s territory is the best of absurdity.
“Sadly, with the brand new Trump administration coming into a second time period, not solely does the UN face an exceptionally hostile White Home, however even lots of the US’ buddies and allies are bewildered and enormously involved about what he may do subsequent. They concern that nothing good will come out of this Trump administration and are bracing for the worst.”
Trump should do not forget that America First is greatest served when America is revered, not feared, he declared.
Requested in regards to the proposed take-over of the Panama Canal and Greenland, UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq stated final week: ”In relation to any of those questions involving precise Member States’ territory, clearly, we’re ruled, as you realize, by the UN Constitution.”
“And you realize that the UN Constitution stands for the respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Member States. And all Member States and their sovereignty and territorial integrity should be revered,” he stated.
Elaborating additional, Gautam stated all through human historical past, dominant imperial powers usually felt that their army and financial may justify the equal of their “manifest future” and unchecked energy.
“However we have now now entered an period of interdependence and the necessity to comply with a rules-based worldwide order that the US helped craft after World Battle II. Nonetheless, the imperial hangover nonetheless persists amongst sure segments of the political class within the US, in addition to in Putin’s Russia, Erdogan’s Türkiye, and some different previous empires,” he identified.
Because the Trump mania shouldn’t be going to final ceaselessly, stated Gautam, “I hope and anticipate that saner voices in favour of a mutually useful, rule-based worldwide order will prevail once more within the US and elsewhere”.
If human civilization is to outlive and thrive, there isn’t a alternative however to comply with the trail of peaceable coexistence and interdependence the place wholesome competitors is cherished however bullying by the highly effective is frowned upon, he declared.
In the meantime, in a Q&A in Panama Metropolis final week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio justified the Panama Canal take-over by arguing that it’s “utterly unacceptable” that Hong Kong-based firms are having management over the entry and exit factors of the canal. That can’t proceed, he stated
“And if there’s a battle and China tells them, do every part you possibly can to impede the canal in order that the U.S. can’t have interaction in commerce and commerce, in order that the U.S. army and naval fleet can’t get to the Indo-Pacific quick sufficient, they must do it. They must do it, and they might do it. And now we’d have a serious downside on our arms. That’s primary.”
Quantity two, “we have now to speak about the truth that we constructed this factor. We paid for it. Hundreds of individuals died doing this – Individuals. And someway our naval vessels who undergo there, and American delivery that goes by there, pays charges some instances greater than different international locations are paying – for instance, a vessel from China. That’s additionally not acceptable”.
It was a horrible deal when it was made, it ought to by no means have been allowed.
“They’re going to let you know that it’s set by an impartial administrative entity and never the federal government; that’s their inside downside. They’ll must determine that out. However we shouldn’t be able of getting to pay greater than different international locations. The truth is, we must be getting a reduction or possibly at no cost, as a result of we paid for the factor,” declared Rubio.
IPS UN Bureau Report
Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
Comply with IPS Information UN Bureau on Instagram
© Inter Press Service (2025) — All Rights ReservedAuthentic supply: Inter Press Service
