ED Trump doctrine
UN speech fiery on NK but keeps diplomatic option
U.S. President Donald Trump used fiery rhetoric in his first United Nations speech but hit an unexpected tone — authoritative and responsible, fitting for the leader of the free world. It was an above-average speech, indicating Trump has grown into the job that was feared to be too big for him at the start.
This change was evident in his reference to North Korea, a global threat which has come close to making nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that are capable of hitting the U.S., China, Europe and Russia.
To put the conclusion first, the speech is worth being called the “Trump doctrine” providing a more firm direction about how he will deal with Iran and Venezuela as well as North Korea. The Trumpian solution on the North comes down to diplomacy, not military options.
Trump’s speech stated, “The United States has great strength and patience... the United States is ready, willing and able (to destroy the North). Hopefully this will not be necessary. That is what the United Nations is all about.” Then, he encouraged the North to realize denuclearization is the only acceptable future.
Do some fisking and three key phrases stand out: The first is “great patience,” meaning Trump puts the situation into perspective rather than having an itch to go to war with the North as feared. The second is “hopefully,” indicating that he is on the side of peace and the third is the “U.N.,” showing his inclination to stick to a multilateral rather than unilateral solution.
These signs for Trump’s preference for no war are eclipsed by other bellicose and graphic words and phrases — describing the North’s leader Kim Jong-un as a “Rocket Man” on a suicide mission facing total destruction when he threatens the security of the U.S. and its allies. Making it sound like a battle cry is his citation of Kim dynasty’s record of crimes — starvation of its people, the assassination of his half-brother and the death of Otto Warmbier, a U.S. college student after his release from detention in the North.
Trump’s real intention can be made clearer when read in a broader context.
“We do expect all nations ... to respect the interests of their own people and the rights of every other sovereign nation,” he said, fitting his view of equality on the global stage. Later he stated the America spirit of unbridled competition among nations, saying, “I will always put America first. Just like you, as the leaders of your countries, will always and should always put your countries first.”
The speech shows a sense of maturity of the Trump presidency that is increasingly reverting to the pre-Trumpian era when the U.S. leadership was regarded as something to respect and follow.
The success of the Trump doctrine, however, depends very much on the response of China, a rising big rival power, and North Korea, a small nation that can seriously damage Trump’s vision.