Donald Trump and his followers are throwing the diplomacy rule book out the window and making threats at anybody and everybody.
It follows an underlying theme that runs through Trump's MAGA movement, that diplomatic niceties fall in line with political correctness, democratic values, and racial sensitivity, i.e., they are superfluous and simply woke delusions designed to deprive the political right from saying and doing whatever it wants, free from the notion of a golden rule and simple concepts of humanity, politeness, fairness and tact.
So, we have U.S. president-elect Trump declaring that he doesn't have to use the threat of annexing Panama and Greenland militarily when talking about Canada because he would just annex our country economically. Of course, we acknowledge that not a lot of research and analysis has been put into this by Trump but hasn't Canada already been pretty much annexed economically by the United States?
Setting that aside, it is easy to dismiss Trump's actions here as senile buffoonery but actually Trump's goal is typical of his historical deal-making strategy. He's known as a bully in negotiations whose aim is to destabilize his opponent, which is how he sees the other party in his various business deals. Not a partner, an opponent. There's also the "ask for the sun and settle for the moon" modus operandi at play too. Demand a 25 per cent tariff and settle for a 10 per cent one. Threaten annexation and settle for complete capitulation over border policy and military investment.
The problem with Trump's actions is that he dismisses diplomatic niceties and says whatever he wants. This, of course, endears him to his followers, who feel the America First! philosophy gives them the right to push people around who are not Americans (and some Americans too).
The international arena has traditionally worked on the notion that you are polite to the excess so as not to offend other members of the international community. Besides just being reflective of the golden rule (treat others how you'd like to be treated) negotiating like this risks provoking retaliation that could be harmful to all involved. Contentious language is a barrier in negotiations, i.e., a barrier to getting what you want. Go into your next new car negotiation and call the dealer a sniveling wimp, see how good a deal you get.
Canada is the junior partner in U.S.-Canada relations but historically, American presidents have generally treated us like equals and discussions are conducted as such. This applies across the board to all nations in dealing with each other. Civil discourse leads to solutions. Diplomats and politicians keep their personal opinions of each other to themselves, usually.
Occasionally, those opinions slip out, usually in memoirs and such. The disgraced U.S. president Richard Nixon once described Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's father Pierre as "that ass***e Trudeau." President Lyndon B. Johnson once raged against a Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson speech in which the prime minister denounced the U.S. decision to begin bombing Vietnam. In a subsequent meeting, Johnson ranted at Pearson and reportedly grabbed him by the collar. He said Canada's actions feel like his dog just p***** on the rug.
That may be what you're thinking but you don't say it, at least not publicly. And Nixon and Johnson didn't say it publicly then. In front of the cameras they were all smiles.
Trump doesn't feel he has to behave that way. But that's traditionally been the way international relations have been conducted.
Those of us who believe that we are all equals and that all humans are entitled to dignity and respect feel that blunt and brutal language has no place in international relations. Or any relations, for that matter. But the MAGA right and their like in Canada (and elsewhere) don't agree with this.
Saying you're going to annex your neighbour is not just rude, it's dangerous. Remember, Adolph Hitler annexed part of Poland. It started WWII. Vladimir Putin is attempting to annex Ukraine. Russian casualties are approaching one million. I don't have the figures for Ukranians.
Now Trump is talking about annexing Panama and Greenland. He says he won't need tanks to annex Canada. This is the language of history's most vile dictator and mass murderer (Hitler).
But Trump is just joking, right? Ha, ha. Remember, Hitler and his Nazis were seen as lamentable buffoons in the 1930s. Nobody took them seriously at first.
Do, I think the U.S. is going to annex Canada? No, I don't. I think Trump is treating international relations like his business dealings.
But is Trump incapable of saying anything nice or diplomatic, without seeming smarmy or manipulative? Apparently not. Why does he have to be like this? Is the world not miserable enough with animosity and grievance driving public discourse?
America has and has had many brilliant political philosophers, inspiring speakers and great humanitarians. Trump won't be remembered as one them. And why can't they be in fashion instead of greedy, belligerent sociopaths?
Alistair Taylor has been a writer and editor with Black Press since 1989, most of those years spent as editor of the Campbell River Mirror.
