PERSPECTIVE
This year, all eyes were on the US, the biggest shareholder
post 1944-1945 period when political and fi nancial institutions
like the UN with fi ve veto members (transact with issue of war
and peace) as well as International Monitory Fund (IMF) was
created. The UN body and the US dominated international
fi nancial institutions have contributed adequately to world
stability. The 20th century happens to be the “American
Century”. There are many arguments now when the US
actions, deeds and engagements with the rest of the world are
shifting and the UN is bringing together everyone on issues
of global concern.
President Trump stressed once again, in his second
UNGA meet, on the US’s National Security Strategy to
“protect the homeland, promote American prosperity,
preserve peace through strength and advance American
infl uence”; thereby raising doubts whether the country
wanted to remain as a global power. Laughter did burst
when Trump affi rmed that he had accomplished more as
a President in the two years than any other Presidents in
American history. The determination of Trump’s campaign
promise of “America First” is translating into strategic goals.
The strategies shaped since the end of the cold war by both
the Democrats and the Republicans on the desired approach
towards China, Iran, North Korea and Russia disclose the
intricacy of national security challenges that confronts the
US. The rise of China and bettering of Russia have been a
challenge to American power, infl uence and interests. The
politics of this Global Power is undermining globalization
by turning its back on global institutions; assaulting
multilateralism by cutting off fi nancial assistance to UN
relief actions and engaging in trade policy predominantly
based on a bilateral approach.
The General Secretary of the World Body Antonio
Guterres, speaking shortly after President Trump, provided
a denunciation of the American President’s vision. “Today,
world order is increasingly chaotic. Power relations are
less clear. Universal values are being eroded. Democratic
principles are under siege, and the rule of law is being
undermined,” Guterres told the gathering. “Impunity is on
the rise, as leaders and states push the boundaries, both at
home and in the international arena.”
The UNGA clearly revealed that there was enough
trust defi cit disorder amongst the nation-states; it called for
collective actions to uphold multilateralism and globalization.
It could be observed that it was an indication rejecting
Trump’s resort to protectionism and isolationism.
Implications in South Asia
The Indo-Pacific holds geo-strategic importance for
Washington’s “America First Policy”. The US’s incessant
engagement and commitments with Australia, India, Japan
(Quad group) and other partners in the region is an obvious
signal of the already spelt out US National Security Strategy
2017. China and Russia have been termed as ‘revisionist
power’ and as ‘contestants’. The US has strengthened
its political and economic supremacy with trade war and
sanctions more willingly than reconciling with China and
Russia. The world now has been portrayed as a competitive
amphitheater rather than a community of nations as previously
referred to. The attempt to adapt to the post World War II
institutions has been less visible.
Three signifi cant reasons appear foremost for the global
power to engage in South Asia. The geo-strategic relevance
is that South Asia is convenient to the resourceful Central
Asia and the favorable approach of its strategic competitors
Russia and Tibet. 80 percent of the ships pass through the
Indian Ocean, and cross the boundaries of the Middle East
and littoral states of Africa. South Asia is geo-politically
signifi cant as two nuclear powers- India and Pakistan- have
not had an easy relationship. Sino-Indo affi liation with both
co-operation and competition pose India to be especially
substantial to counteract China. South West Asia is a source
for international terrorism that keeps knocking on the doors
of the West. The region is also geo-economically imperative
as a huge market with educated and skilled human resources,
outstanding economic growth.
54 • Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 6 • Issue 10 • Oct-Nov 2018, Noida