Opinion | Trump’s exposure of the flawed global order a wake-up call for Southeast Asia
Instead of joining Trump’s neocolonial ‘Board of Peace’, Southeast Asian leaders should seize the chance to help rebuild a global order that is just and equitable
Just over a year ago, US President Donald Trump stood at the US Capitol to deliver his inaugural address for his second term in office. Much of what he said then seemed like characteristic hyperbole. The world had, after all, experienced his first four years in power and emerged on the other side, largely intact.
Even when Trump urged the United States to “once again consider itself a growing nation […] that increases our wealth, expands our territory […] and carries our flag into new and beautiful horizons”, the international community did not think that “the call of the next great adventure” would be anything more than metaphorical.
A year since returning to the White House, Trump is making good on his inauguration promise for the US to be a “more ambitious” nation than any other. Initial warnings about taking control of the Panama Canal have been followed by the imposition of arbitrary tariffs around the world, unilateral drone strikes against boats in Caribbean and Pacific waters, the abduction of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and seizure of the country’s oil, as well as an unyielding fixation on acquiring Greenland.
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It turns out that the imperial age of centuries past never really ended. Empire is defiantly striking back. Senior White House aide, Stephen Miller, could not be clearer about Washington’s view of the real world – where strength, force and power are the only “iron laws” that matter.
This unapologetic flex by the US even against allies has largely paid off for Washington. Gifts of gold and gilt, even a Nobel Peace Prize medal, have flowed in tribute as countries and organisations genuflect for the benefaction of the Oval Office or, at least, evade its moving crosshairs.
Trump gifted gold crown in South Korea
Trump gifted gold crown in South Korea
Disturbingly, tolerance for the US’ repeated stress tests of international norms grew even as countries realised these shocks were slowly changing the global order for the worse. Political leaders stumbled over themselves trying to justify the US’ capture of a sitting head of government and everything seemed negotiable until the prospect of a sovereignty breach hit too close to the North Atlantic.
