Throughout his tenure, the President of the United States has asserted his role in achieving peace in global conflicts across multiple continents since the outset of this year. Recounting recent incidents, when speaking to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, European leaders pressured the US President to advocate for a halt on hostilities between Russia and Ukraine. In response, the President stated that he had successfully curbed as many as six wars without the direct implication of ‘ceasefire’. A day later, in his subsequent address, the President further expanded his claim to have ‘closed’ seven wars.
The White House administration then branded him ‘The President of Peace’, emphasizing his involvement in seven different peace agreements as evidence of his diplomatic success. Like his preceding administrations, he has confronted international points of tension and conflict during his presidency, exerting American influence as a peace arbitrator accordingly.
His most recent peace-building activity happened on the 8th of August, where he invited the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to the White House. This was to sign a joint declaration concerning their long-standing disagreement over Nagorno-Karabakh. The agreement, announced in the White House, saw both nations agree to respect each other’s territorial boundaries, renounce violence and enable a new transport route linking Azerbaijan to Turkey.
This route, aptly named the ‘Trump Route for Peace and Prosperity’, however, needs to be reinforced with more delicate negotiations about complex constitutional and territorial issues for a comprehensive peace agreement to take effect. Despite being a significant stride towards peace, this agreement will still face numerous challenges.
In terms of visibility, momentum, and a potential for enforcement, Trump’s engagement had granted the Armenia-Azerbaijan agreement a greater prominence than previous mediation attempts. Yet, significant obstacles remain on the path to lasting harmony between these warring nations.
Along the Thai-Cambodian frontier in July, conflicts claimed a minimum of 38 lives. In a move to stall the violence, Trump threatened to cease all ongoing US trade discussions unless both nations agreed to an immediate pause in fighting. The subsequent cessation of hostilities was declared ‘immediate and unconditional’ shortly thereafter.
In Israel and Iran’s case, the ambiguity of the situation is further complicated due to America’s involvement in strikes on Iran’s nuclear program, despite claims from Trump about fostering peace following their 12-day dispute. While an informal ceasefire currently exists, a more latent state of war involving all three nations is still far from being completely resolved.
During a period of increasing hostility in May, following a fatal attack on tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir, tensions arose between India and Pakistan. The President, after several days of persistent strikes, revealed that both nations had agreed to an ‘IMMEDIATE AND FULL CEASEFIRE’ mediated by the United States.
With respect to conflicts in Africa, Rwandan and Congolese leaders were welcomed in Washington by Trump in June, where a peace accord was laid out. This document promised respect for territorial lines, disarming of militias, and a commitment to economic cooperation. However, conflict continues in the DRC as rebels and the Congolese military remain in clashes.
In this conflict zone, thousands of innocent lives have been lost, more still dislodged from their homes. Despite hopes for peace following the accord signed in June, the severity of the situation hasn’t mitigated; Human Rights Watch documented further atrocities, including the massacre of at least 140 civilians.
In a different vein, the US President has also been involved in resolving long standing disputes, such as the one between Egypt and Ethiopia over a major dam on the Nile River. Although the situation can’t be classified as a ‘war’, it has caused strains between both nations. Egypt expressed concerns over Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, completed recently, and its potential impact on Egypt’s Nile water share.
Years of disagreement had reached a deadlock by the end of June, but the US President’s involvement breathed new life into the talks. Trump gave his perspective, siding with Egypt’s concern over Nile waters. His promise for a quick resolution was met with appreciation from Egypt, but obvious dismay from Ethiopia.
Among other peace initiatives, Trump also takes credit for maintaining tranquility in the Balkans. The nations of Serbia and Kosovo, mired in disagreements since the 1990s Balkan conflicts, have been a point of focus. Frequent tensions arise over Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence.
Regardless of the occasional hostile exchanges and clashes in northern Kosovo, there have been no large-scale hostile confrontations between these two nations in recent years. The US President’s role in maintaining this delicate balance of peace is thus affirmed, even in the face of such enduring disputes.
The post The President of Peace: US President’s Impact on Global Conflicts appeared first on Real News Now.
About Author
