Trump rhetoric leaves U.N. scorched, scratching heads
Ominous remarks about N. Korea, Iran could heighten nuclear fears
It’s not every year at the United Nations that an American president condemns one country as “a murderous regime” and threatens another with destruction — but Donald Trump has never been one to stick to diplomatic norms.
Few American presidents have made the history books during annual trips to the U.N. General Assembly. But the New York businessman’s foray into a 193country diplomatic minefield will probably be remembered for its unusual and unadorned attacks on Iran and North Korea that could set the stage for months or even years of nuclear-fueled tension and uncertainty.
Trump’s rhetoric “left a lot of people scratching their heads,” said Richard Fontaine, president of the Washington-based Center for a New American Security think tank. “So where do we go from here?”
Trump made some headway Thursday on his push to pressure North Korea to back off its weapons program, announcing an executive order designed to crack down on anyone who does business with the hermit nation.
But it was Trump’s threats to “totally destroy” North Korea — and his “Rocket Man” nickname for the leader of the rogue nation — that fueled chatter on the sidelines of the United Nations after
his speech Tuesday to the General Assembly.
In a statement Friday morning, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called Trump a “mentally deranged dotard” and threatened to “tame (Trump) with fire” for his comment about destroying the rogue nation.
Some U.S. allies are concerned about the war of words between Trump and North Korea and want to see more of a diplomatic focus on pressuring Kim Jong Un’s government into giving up his nuclear weapons program.
The president accused Iran on Tuesday of trying to develop nuclear weapons despite the agreement it signed with the United States and other world powers, which he called an “embarrassment” to the United States.
U.S. allies that are signatories to the Obama-era agreement — including France, Germany and the European Union — disputed Trump’s claims, saying Iran is in compliance and insisting that voiding the deal would encourage the Iranians to seek nukes.
“He gave a speech that satisfied his domestic base and alienated a lot of his foreign counterparts,” said Richard Gowan with the European Council on Foreign Relations.
Oct. 15 is the deadline to recertify the Iran deal his predecessor, Barack Obama, signed in 2015. Monday, Trump said he would make a decision “very soon.” Wednesday, Trump said he had made up his mind but wouldn’t reveal his secret — even to British Prime Minister Theresa May, who asked him directly.
Trump tried to make headway on other diplomatic fronts. He pushed to restart long-stalled Middle East peace talks in meetings with Israel and the Palestinian Authority, describing it as the toughest deal of all.
The president talked about business opportunities in Africa, though his comment that many of his friends had gone to the continent “trying to get rich” drew a stony silence from African leaders.
In a bid to reassure allies, Trump told world leaders that his “America First” foreign policy does not preclude working with other countries on major challenges, particularly terrorism.
All countries need to stick up for their own “sovereignty” and put their own citizens first, Trump said, though he suggested the United Nations take action against anti-democratic governments in Venezuela and Cuba and confront North Korea and Iran.
“We have had a very productive and strong week,” said Nikki Haley, Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations, adding that
“He gave a speech that satisfied his domestic base and alienated a lot of his foreign counterparts.” Richard Gowan,
European Council on Foreign Relations
delegates appreciated “how blunt and honest” Trump was on North Korea and other issues.
If the United States was forced to defend itself or its allies, Trump said, “we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea.”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel told broadcaster Deutsche Welle, “I am against such threats.” Merkel, who stayed away from the United Nations this year because of her re-election campaign in Germany, said, “We consider any form of military solution as totally inappropriate, and we insist on a diplomatic solution.”
Trump and his aides said they do not want war with North Korea and hope economic pressure will persuade Kim to drop his nuclear weapons program. The administration will pressure other countries to follow Trump’s lead and impose new economic sanctions, particularly China. The Trump team also seeks tougher sanctions from the United Nations, including a full oil embargo on North Korea.