Editorial: Trump's new decision will be costly for America
It can be easily estimated how much danger such arbitrary thinking can pose to world peace.
US President Donald Trump has announced his withdrawal from 66 international and multilateral institutions, treaties and organizations. These institutions or organizations have been working to reduce the impact of climate change, limit the pace and impact of global warming, clean energy, fight poverty and hunger, promote gender equality and improve human life in every corner of the world.
About half of these were established by the United Nations and are under the direct supervision of this global organization. Trump has called them fake, anti-American and corrupt and said that these institutions have either “continued to work against American interests” or are completely unnecessary and useless for the United States.
It is absurd to waste American taxpayer funds on them. Among the organizations that have been cut off is the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The 198-party treaty aims to combat “dangerous human interference” with the climate system. Trump withdrew from the Paris Agreement on Climate Change last year. Now he has again announced his withdrawal from the convention. Although the most dangerous effects of climate change have been seen in the United States in the past two years, Trump is not ready to admit that modern human lifestyles or greenhouse gases are to blame for global warming.
The US administration has also banned American scientists from participating in international or multinational conferences/conventions on global warming, climate change, climate pollution, etc. This ban was imposed with the intention of preventing any scientist from criticizing the decisions of the Trump administration. The only thought behind all these steps is that America will do whatever it wants. It does not need to seek help from any other country or approval from any international forum for any work. There is also talk in the American media that the Trump administration may also ask for the closure of the United Nations headquarters in New York and the permanent relocation of this world organization to another country. On Thursday, Trump declared in a TV interview that “No international law is greater than American interests. Therefore, whatever I find morally justified, I will do. For me, my morality is international law.’’
It can be easily estimated how much danger such arbitrary thinking can pose to world peace. Among the treaties or organizations that have suffered the consequences of Trump’s sidelining is the ‘International Solar Alliance’ (ISA). The aim of this alliance, jointly promoted by India and France, is to promote the use of solar energy throughout the world.
The US was an active partner in this, but now it is only natural that this partnership will end. The headquarters of this organization is in Gurugram. India is confident that despite the American sidelining, there will be no stagnation in the work of this organization. Similar courage in terms of thinking should be shown by other member countries of the ISA. The slogan "American self-interest first" may prove to be temporarily successful, but it cannot become a permanent policy. This lesson will soon become clear to Americans.