- The global community is enduring aftershocks of some of the most ill-advised and irrational tariff moves introduced by the president of the United States of America, Donald Trump. The situation being played out across the world needs no further elaboration since the disruptions caused by the maverick and petulant Trump have completely overhauled the established world order in more than one way. The first few weeks of Trump’s coronation as the President were marked by so many flip-flops on the tariff front. Several countries did acquiesce to Trump’s no-holds-barred diktats, silently falling in line to ensure their respective country’s economy does not falter from the tariff threats. Why would any leader wish to disturb the apple cart if some concession/pandering helps?
PC: Council on Foreign Relations
- However, a few countries not only stood up to the tariff threats with gusto but also went aboutimposing reverse tariffs as well. China is one such country. Apart from imposing tariffs, Trump also diligently pursued peace pacts around the world, aiming to usher in an end to raging conflicts among countries. The moot point to ponder over here is whether such peace plans have proved to be successful. Let’s dwelve on the topic. Prima facie, Trump’s peace deals appear to be suffering from a ‘Humpty Dumpty’ syndrome; they are coming apart, and no one seems to have any clue how to put them back together. This, even as Trump tries to pile pressure on Zelenskyy to get him to give up Ukrainian territory to push through his Russia-Ukraine peace deal.
PC: CBS Austin
- As you know, Thailand and Cambodia have started fighting each other again, despite inking a truce in October that was overseen by Trump. And the ink wasn’t even dry on the document signed by the leaders of DR Congo and Rwanda at the White House, when hostilities broke out between the two countries again. It’s obvious Trump doesn’t seem to have a grip on the Gaza peace plan that appears to be in limbo, with sporadic fighting reported between Hamas and the Israeli IDF. Sarcastically speaking, the only truce that is holding is the one that Trump had literally nothing to do with – between India and Pakistan after New Delhi’s Operation Sindoor. Indeed, one is not counting Azerbaijan and Albania, or is it Armenia?
PC: Channel 4
- The point to ponder over here is that Trump might think he is King Canute ordering the waves back, but peace-making can hardly be done through diktats. It takes patience to address the root causes of conflicts and find hard-to-find solutions. It’s not a real estate deal either. Adviser Witkoff may have plenty of experience dealing with land sharks. But he can’t expect countries to fold just so his buddy Trump can get a Nobel Peace prize and get that chip off his shoulder. Meanwhile, ex-KGB Putin is loving what Trump has served him. Many countries have gamed Trump’s peace-making style. Sign a ceasefire document with Trump before cameras, get on his good side, and then gear up for round two of the fight. Trump is too self-absorbed to discern the pattern.
