If scientist Isaac Newton’s 333-year-old third law of motion could be suggested for some modifications, why were American theory of stick and carrot policy not taken up for the modification? The years-old principle was required to be debated at length. It was through this policy —which the U.S. was applying in the international sphere—its hegemony rested. Was American intervention in at least three matters not seen—where President Donald Trump used his country’s power to make the weak countries agree to his whims? It would not be wrong if we say the point raised by Trump was gaining strength flowing to that older existing policy in international politics.
The first was putting a check on Gibraltar’s permission to let the Iranian vessel Grace 1 to sail through the waters. But Trump objected to this. He used the last-ditch legal appeal against this blatant concession. Anyhow, the vessel sailed through the Mediterranean towards Greece after its release from detection off Gibraltor. Iran has warned U.S. that any U.S. move to seize the vessel again would have heavy consequences.
Secondly, Trump jumped into the matter of two U.S. Muslim Congresswomen seeking permission from Israel to visit there. One was Ilhan Umar and the second was Rashida Talib. The U.S. President asked Israel not to comply with their request as they did not appear to be mild or friendly with the Jewish people. According to the news report, Rashida Talib desired to meet her 90-year-old grandmother living in Beit Ur-al Fouqa village in Ramallah of West Bank. After U.S. lawmaker Rashida’s rejection of Israel’s offer to let her travel on humanitarian grounds, her aged grandmother said, “Trump tells me that I should be happy Rashida is not coming.” Trump tweeted, “the only real winner here is Talib’s grandmother. She does not have to see her now!”
The third contentious matter is Trump’s intention of purchasing Greenland from Denmark, which controls its foreign and defence matters. Even China and Russia are keeping their eyes over this territory full of mineral resources and strategic value. America uses its portion for its military base under the treaty reached between both the countries. Even Harry Truman, in the year 1946, expressed his willingness to buy Greenland, but it did not materialise.
Danish leaders have strongly rejected Trump’s interest in the Island purchase. They considered it as an April Fool’s joke. They made it clear it is not up for sale, but business can be run. If the U.S. is considering buying this piece of territory, Trump has gone mad. The Danish PM Mette Frederiksen said the idea of selling Greenland to the United States was totally absurd. Whatever be the reactions, Trump also wants to be known in American history like Thomas Jefferson who secured Louisiana from France in the year of 1803 and Andrew Johnson who bought Alaska from Russia in the year of 1867. He was more interested in containing China and its dominance over the world’s industrial metals and also to block Russian renewed military ambitions in that autonomous region.
Nothing that suits other countries bothers big brother as there remains no relaxation in strict policies being followed by a Super Power that flies stealthily into the air and the radar fails to detect that fast speed fighter plane.