The post-second world war taboo on acquiring territory through force or by the threat of force is being unravelled by a generation of political leaders, led by expansionist threats from Donald Trump that are unprecedented for a US president.
Experts are warning that a combination of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and Trump’s comments explicitly pushing for the US to acquire Greenland, Canada, the Panama canal and Gaza is fuelling a permissive environment that threatens long-recognised borders and the international rules-based order that has existed since the end of the war.
The norm, enshrined in article 2 of the UN charter of 1945, states that “all members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state”.
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The headline of an essay in the current issue of Foreign Affairs puts it bluntly: “Conquest is back.”
I don’t like sanewashing Trumplon’s words, even if it’s to criticize him. He’s mad as a hatter and everything he says is a mixture of bragging to his constituency, enjoying being an asshole without consequences, and simple stupidity.
At the same time these topics need to be talken seriously and written about. This time around, the madness has method.
I guess these are contradicting desires on my part.
But so far words are all I can see. If they had any (global) effect in the real world it’s that a) they backfired but also b) they push an overall fear/hatemongering strategy. No actual expansioning has happened so far (to my knowledge).
Also, as another user pointed out, the USA has been practicing colonialism* almost forever. Trumplon, once again, just say the quiet part out loud.
But none of this is meant to downplay the actual real dangers the USA’s current regime poses. I just don’t like sanewashing Trump.