Dictator Before Inauguration Day

trump ai characature — Donald Trump has embarked on his quest to expand the American empire, which he intends to rule.

Dictator Before Inauguration Day

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by Mark M. Bello

I warned you you were voting for chaos.

Donald Trump will not be president for another 11 days or so, and he is already creating international turmoil with his threat to “acquire” Greenland, the Panama Canal, and Canada—by force, if necessary.

The proposition violates international law and legal frameworks established to maintain global peace and sovereignty. While he hasn’t threatened force, he refused to rule it out, indicating that the acquisitions were necessary for America’s economic security. Should we be concerned? Why would these “acquisitions” be illegal?

Sovereign Equality

International law is based on the principle of sovereign equality, enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations (UN) (particularly in Article 2(1)). This principle affirms that all member states have equal rights and duties. Greenland, as an autonomous territory of Denmark, Canada, and Panama, as independent sovereign nations, enjoy the protections afforded by this principle.

Don’t get me wrong. Trump could undoubtedly acquire them through appropriate negotiation. However, obtaining these territories by force or unjust coercion would directly contravene their sovereign status. The concept of sovereignty is integral to the modern international order, ensuring that nations are free from external interference in their territorial and political affairs. Any attempt to violate this sovereignty—even under the guise of economic or strategic benefits—undermines the international legal framework. Think Russia and Ukraine.

The Prohibition of the Use of Force

The UN Charter’s Article 2(4) explicitly prohibits the threat or use of force against any state’s territorial integrity or political independence. This prohibition is a cornerstone of international law, aimed at preventing acts of aggression that could lead to conflict or war.

If Trump were to acquire Greenland, the Panama Canal, or Canada by military means, such actions would constitute acts of aggression under international law. The acquisition of territory through force has been deemed illegal since the adoption of the UN Charter in 1945. Historical precedents, such as Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990, demonstrate the international community’s willingness to condemn and penalize such actions. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) authorized collective military action to repel Iraq’s invasion and imposed economic sanctions.

Thus, any attempt to seize Greenland, the Panama Canal, or Canada should provoke a strong international response.

Violations of Territorial Integrity

Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark governed under the 2009 Self-Government Act, which allows it significant autonomy in its domestic affairs. Canada is an independent state and a founding member of the United Nations. As established by the Torrijos-Carter Treaties of 1977, the Panama Canal is under the jurisdiction of Panama.

Acquiring these regions by any means short of face-to-face negotiation would constitute a blatant violation of their territorial integrity, thus protected under customary international law, prohibiting the dismemberment or annexation of a state’s territory without its consent. Moreover, the UN Charter obliges member states to peacefully settle disputes, further reinforcing the illegality of territorial acquisition through coercion or military aggression.

Self-Determination of Peoples

The principle of self-determination, enshrined in Article 1 of both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, guarantees peoples the right to freely determine their political status and pursue their economic, social, and cultural development.

Greenland’s inhabitants, predominantly Indigenous Inuit, have the right to self-determination. Similarly, the citizens of Canada and Panama have the same rights. Any attempt to forcibly annex these territories would disregard the will of their people, violating their fundamental human rights and undermining international norms.

The Role of Treaties and Agreements

The Torrijos-Carter Treaties between the United States and Panama ensure Panamanian sovereignty over the Panama Canal, while Greenland’s status is governed by agreements between Denmark and its autonomous government. Numerous treaties and agreements protect Canada’s borders and sovereignty, including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), of which Canada is a founding member.

Attempting to acquire these territories by force would nullify existing treaties and agreements, violating the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969), which stipulates that treaties must be observed in good faith. The doctrine of pacta sunt servanda (“promises must be kept”) is a fundamental principle of international law that Trump and America would flagrantly disregard.

Potential Consequences

The international repercussions of acquiring these sovereign properties through force or undue coercion would be severe. Such actions would likely lead to widespread condemnation, economic sanctions, and possible military intervention by other nations. The United States, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, would face a significant loss of credibility and influence in the international arena.

Using force would also strain relationships with allies, notably Denmark, Canada, and NATO members. It could also embolden other nations, Like Russia and China, to pursue territorial expansion through aggression, destabilizing global peace and security.

Conclusion

The idea of acquiring Greenland, the Panama Canal, or Canada by force or coercion is not only politically unfeasible, but also a gross violation of international law. Such actions would undermine the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, and self-determination essential to maintaining global order. Moreover, the international community’s commitment to upholding these principles ensures that any attempt to acquire territory through coercion or aggression would be met with severe consequences.

Ultimately, pursuing such a policy would isolate the United States on the world stage, erode its moral and legal standing, and jeopardize the rules-based international order that has prevailed since the end of World War II. International law prevents such aggressive and destabilizing behavior, and its principles must be upheld to ensure peace and cooperation among nations.

Donald Trump promised to be a dictator on day one—he couldn’t wait until day one to begin his dictatorship. Trump’s brazen, arrogant, and irresponsible aggression toward three separate nations foretells an uncertain future for America. Fasten your seatbelts, fellow-citizens; four years of an unchecked narcissist dictator will endanger our precious democracy.