President Trump's threat to cut off financial assistance to countries voting against America's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is a dangerous sign. President Trump issued the threat two days ahead of voting in the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN). US ambassador to United Nations Nikki Haley had sent a letter to representatives of UN member states warning them against supporting a resolution rejecting President Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. The letter indicated that the president would be watching this vote carefully and had asked her to report back on those who voted against The US. This is unprecedented in diplomatic arena.
The unilateral declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is a violation of international law itself. That the UN member states passed the resolution by an overwhelming majority of 128 to 9, is, in fact, a slap on the face of the US administration. The resolution rendered the US recognition null and void and asked the US to rescind the decision. US ambassador to UN Nikki Haley considered it an attack on the United States.
Foreign assistance to underdeveloped and developing countries by the United States has gradually been reducing while China, Japan and South Korea, apart from Canada, France, the United Kingdom and Australia take lead in this sector.
The OPEC countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates are also giving foreign aid. According to US State Department report of 2014, foreign assistance amounting $ 35 billion goes to over 140 countries. Of them, Israel, which received $ 3.1 billion, is the largest recipient of foreign aid and next comes Egypt ($ 1.5 billion). Afghanistan, where the US is involved in a war against the Taliban, received $ 1.1 billion, Jordan $ 1.0 billion, and Pakistan $ 933 million. Egypt and Jordan receive foreign aid following their recognition of Israel. The report of 2013-2015 indicates that $8.4 billion goes to global health programme, $5.9 billion to military financing, $4.6 billion is used for economic purpose while $ 2.5 billion is used for development assistance. Of late, the US administration has been channelling foreign aid through non-government routes.
On the other hand, the US owes to China, Japan and South Korea in term of ownership of its treasury bonds. The federal budget of the United States depends on debt to China, Japan and South Korea. The US has over $20 trillion foreign debt.
In such a context of foreign aid, former CIA director Brennan criticised President Trump's "narcissistic, vengeful behaviour" ion the context of the vote in the United Nations. Such behaviour expects blind loyalty and subservience from everyone, former CIA director added. Every country is sovereign and none should impose decision on another. President Trump's threat is coercive diplomacy, indeed. His threat could be compared to that of President George W. Bush who said at a joint session of Congress on November 20, 2001 that "either you are with US, or you are with terrorists" following the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Centre.
President Trump's isolationist policy is apparent from his withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement and Paris Climate Change accord and his decertification of Iran nuclear deal.
French President Emmanuel Macron has now taken lead on the issue of climate change in a rebuff to President Trump. The French president has awarded $ 70 million in grants to climate researchers under the rubric 'Make Our Planet Great Again'. Of the 18 recipients of grants, 13 are from the United States who will conduct research in France. A climate summit named 'One Planet Summit' was held in Paris on December 11 where business and government leaders discussed how to reduce carbon emissions. Microsoft leader, billionaire Bill Gates and another billionaire Michael Bloomberg and former governor and renowned actor Arnold Schwarzenegger attended the One Planet Summit.
In another turn of event, foreign policy chief of European Union has unilaterally cancel the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers in reaction to Trump's decision not to certify the accord.
Meanwhile, trade ministers of 11 countries at a meeting in Vietnam on November 10, 2017 decided to resurrect the Trans-Pacific Partnership -- without the United States. TPP has now been renamed as Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
On December 23, French President Macron held a meeting with Mr. Mahmood Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority. They declared the US has marginalised itself in Israeli-Palestine conflict. Mahmood Abbas told a joint press conference in Paris that the Palestinians would not accept any peace plan from the United States.
What will Trump achieve with his current foreign policy stance? And what will the US gain?
Mohammad Amjad Hossain, retired diplomat from Bangladesh and former President of Nova chapter of Toastmaster International Club of America, writes from Virginia
amjad.21@gmail.com