American Elites Must Rein Trump In

The United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution on the Russia-Ukraine war last Monday, and its contents are both astonishing and disappointing.

- WANG SON-TAEK

The resolution demanded a swift end to the war between the two nations and called for sustainable peace. However, it failed to mention who initiated the invasion and who bears responsibility for this tragic conflict. This resolution marks a stark departure from the consistent position of Western nations over the past three years, which condemned Russia's invasion as a blatant violation of international law. Alarmingly, this shift was driven by the United States, which proposed the controversial resolution, leading to a troubling division within the Western alliance.

By ignoring the responsibility of the aggressor, the resolution inadvertently emboldens dictators and rule-breakers worldwide, who may now consider launching their own "special military operations." This situation threatens the global order that has been upheld for nearly eight decades under American leadership. At the center of this disruption stands US President Donald Trump, whose actions are dismantling the world order by excusing the invader while leaving the victimized nation without justice. This is not merely a diplomatic misstep—it is an act of global arrogation and a profound disruption of international norms.

Trump appears to revel in his own form of diplomatic blitzkrieg, operating under the assumption that he will not be held accountable. Yet history teaches us that even great powers must pay the price for disruption and arrogation. The US should not expect to be an exception.