By M Santhananaban
US President Donald Trump’s recent speech at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly showed that the leader of the world’s most powerful nation lacked generosity, grace and gravitas.
It failed to reflect the wider sense of universalism or inclusiveness of the United States. Instead, it portrayed Trump’s own inadequacies, insecurities and insensitivity to his own and other nations.
The overwhelmingly enormous power of money, manipulation and divisiveness brought Trump to the White House for the second time. But his intimidating approach is unlikely to advance the interests of his country.
The journalist, humorist and satirist HL Mencken once predicted (Baltimore Evening Sun, 26 July 1920) that something close to a moron might make it to the White House.
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The UN General Assembly provides a platform for leaders to express thoughtful or supportive sentiments about their nations’ priorities. They often dwell on critical issues and challenges in the global environment.
It is an occasion for leaders of sovereign nations to speak diplomatically and responsibly to the largest international forum. Platitudes, pleasantries and constructive statements have been accepted as the norm at the heart of international diplomacy and discourse.
While concerns and condemnations of destructive or disruptive acts by certain nations are made, they are expressed in the strongest language. But this is usually done within the bounds of protocol and diplomatic power play within the context of situations that arise. Leaders are not known to air dirty laundry about their own countries or their political adversaries at such forums.
While the UN is fair game for criticism as it has become a bloated bureaucratic behemoth, it is brutal to simply highlight gaps and glitches in its operational efficiency or effectiveness. The UN can only operate as a reflection of its membership’s character, commitment and conduct. It is not a supranational authority designed to focus on minutiae such as escalators, teleprompters or the traffic situation in downtown New York.
It is an international organisation committed to overarching goals, including international peace and development. It often operates without the mandated authority to regulate international relations. This is because no member-nation wants to surrender an inch of its sovereignty or security. Still, the UN remains the most important peacemaking and peacekeeping force.
Trump’s sweeping assertions and self-aggrandising statements about his personal achievements showed an utter lack of sophistication and statesmanship. So too his falsehoods about climate change and immigrant ‘invasions’.
Sure, the internal defects, divisions and disputes within the US merit some interest, study and sympathy. But they do not qualify for international recognition or intervention. Important as they are, they are domestic affairs.
Trump’s claims about ending “seven unendable” wars seemed boastful and lacked merit. They were plain baloney.
The US president had no business criticising the changing ethnic identity of Europe or articulating his own preferences for clearly a whites-only continent.
A basic understanding of both English-speaking and French-speaking Africa with arbitrarily drawn boundaries would show that most of that continent’s challenges stem from a history of colonial exploitation and neocolonialism.
Trump’s speech received what appeared to be strained applause. This was not so much to show approval or acclaim. Rather, it was a polite and somewhat diplomatic acknowledgement of an appalling speech. Seasoned diplomats and distinguished personalities from most countries have larger interests at heart.
Diplomats and leaders accustomed to speaking at UN forums rely more on frankness, circumspection, conciliation and convincing arguments to win understanding and cooperation. They usually abstain from displays of conceit, contempt, crudeness and confrontation – tools so readily employed by Trump.
The lack of progress on serious issues like the Palestinian homeland is partly because of the failure of democratic countries to accept, even selectively, democratic principles at the international level. Several international initiatives by Trump, including on Israeli and Ukrainian matters, failed to attract the support of the vast majority of the UN’s 193 members.
Yet there is scope for the world to progress to an international system of greater peace, mutual trust and development based on decency, decorum and discipline within a reformed UN system.
The West must also accept and embrace the reality that the international centre of gravity is slowly but surely moving out of the North Atlantic region into a more diverse, multipolar world.
Trump must be seen more as an aberration in world diplomacy than an authority on global affairs.
Dato’ M Santhananaban is a former Malaysian ambassador with 45 years’ experience in the public sector.
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