A chilling new era as US embraces autocracy while disregarding rule of law and democracy
Last month the United Nations General Assembly voted on two symbolic resolutions; to declare 28 January the 'International Day of Peaceful Coexistence' and 12 July the 'International Day of Hope'. One might think this a foregone conclusion. Why would any nation be against such concepts? Predictably, every country voted in favour of the resolution, apart from one: the United States of America.
But even more astonishing than the lone dissenting vote was the justification for it. Edward Heartney, a veteran US career diplomat with a long track record in economic diplomacy, delivered a blistering rejection — and not just of the symbolic days but of the entire UN framework, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to Heartney, these goals represented a form of 'soft global governance' that undermined US sovereignty, despite the country playing a critical role in their adoption in 2015. The US argued that the UN's embrace of peaceful coexistence and dialogue among civilisations was a front operation for what it sees as a kind of Chinese Trojan horse.
'We have a concern that this resolution is a reaffirmation of Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Although framed in neutral language, Agenda 2030 and the SDGs advance a program of soft global governance that is inconsistent with US sovereignty and adverse to the rights and interests of Americans,' read the official statement.
'We must care first and foremost for our own citizens above others… President Trump set a clear and overdue course correction on 'gender' and climate ideology, which pervade the SDGs. The concept of 'dialogue among civilisations' is rooted in President Xi Jinping's Global Civilization Initiative.' The language was Kafkaesque in its delusional, paranoid insecurity.
Amid the flood of headlines that have drowned perspective since 20 January 2025, that the very concept of the Sustainable Development Goals, which have been at the heart of at least the rhetoric of international affairs and development for years, if not always at the crux of its reality, is now being jettisoned by the world's most powerful country is a moment of clarity as to how far the US has changed or, depending on your point of view, has regressed.
Even more alarming was what happened on 14 April, when Donald Trump met with El Salvador's strongman vigilante president, Nayib Bukele. That meeting was the moment when the United States openly disregarded a unanimous Supreme Court ruling, choosing instead to align with a foreign autocrat over its own judiciary. Simply put, it was then that the US ceased to have a law-abiding government.
The case in question involved the illegal deportation of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia. The Supreme Court had ruled 9-0 that Garcia must be returned to the US. Trump ignored the ruling, falsely claiming the court had sided with him. His attorney-general, secretary of state, and vice-president followed suit. Bukele, known for his authoritarian streak and for spending $163-million (R3-billion) of taxpayers' money gambling on Bitcoin, happily played along.
In terms of clarifying moments, Trump's meeting with Bukele is arguably equal to the public humiliation of Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky in late February. Indeed, the contrast is telling. Zelensky, whose country has been fighting for its existence against a ruthless intruder in the shape of Vladimir Putin, was scolded for being insufficiently thankful for US military aid and for failing to wear a suit. A tieless Bukele was showered with praise.
Together, they dismissed the court's ruling and labelled Garcia a terrorist — without evidence. The message to the world was unmistakable: under Trump, America's government shows more deference to foreign strongmen than to its own legal institutions.
In a chilling aside, Trump even joked about building more supermax prisons in El Salvador — not for foreigners, but for US citizens he labels ' homegrown ' deportees. The implication? If he deems you a threat — a gang member, a terrorist sympathiser, or simply un-American — due process may no longer apply. The official position of the world's oldest constitutional republic is that the courts should have no say in who its executive deports and on what grounds. Foreign travellers to the US should beware. They can be detained without recourse. Americans should too. Bukele is effectively playing host to an American gulag, a kind of outsourced Guantanamo.
Meanwhile, warning signs for the US economy are flashing. Morgan Stanley analysts cautioned last week that investors should brace for repeated surprises, referencing Trump's ever-changing justifications for tariffs, saying that they 'should be prepared to be fooled many more times'. And sure enough, Trump's latest target is Jerome Powell and the independence of the Federal Reserve. Markets have sold off again heavily this week, unsurprisingly.
But the message extends beyond economics. 'Fool me once, shame on you…' could now apply to American governance itself. Trump has pardoned white-collar criminals who praised or donated to him. He has suspended laws requiring transparency in corporate ownership and weakened anti-bribery measures, while deporting those who merely don't agree with the strong-arming agenda of the administration. If there is any government acting as a Trojan horse, it is not China.
The US — once the chief architect and guarantor of the global world order and rule of law — is now seemingly intent on dismantling it. For other nations, and for citizens both around the world and in the US itself, the lesson is clear: the rules have changed. In this new, ruthless world, adapting quickly is the only way to survive. DM
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
17 minutes ago
- The South African
Warren Hammond's Personal View: March 2016 Forecast 'The USA - The next 18 years' at the halfway mark
' Radical change, transformation, and upheaval ' – in a note released on March 14, 2016, I forecasted that these characteristics would define the USA's next 18 years. Nearly a decade later, the picture is clear. The forecast was designed to inform investment choices, providing a framework for regional, asset class, sector, and security selection, to ensure decisions were both well-informed and highly effective in investment selection and duration. I identified three key areas where change would be most visible and landscape-shaping: Technology Boom: Exponential, accelerating growth across all things technical. Debt Reckoning: An inevitable restructuring of finance, breaking the cycle of cheap money and debt-led consumption. Environmental Revolution: Sweeping policy changes, with water at the centre. I noted that the USA had entered a long-term pattern of radical change, transformation, innovation, and upheaval. It wasn't just policy shifts; a structural overhaul was essential to heal its dependence on cheap money, debt-led consumption, and risky investment. The political backdrop was already unconventional, and the Clinton vs. Trump race signalled that the USA had entered a non-traditional era of leadership choices, reflecting broader systemic shifts. Based solely on the characteristics of this forecast, with no personal preference or bias, The Personal View, in a separate note reiterated throughout 2016, forecast Donald Trump's first presidential win. The original note warned that while long-term results could be positive, the cycle would be marked by volatility and upheaval, especially as debt and risky investment remained 'the nectar of the Gods'. I wrote that the USA might face significant brand damage and public discredit before structural reform and overhaul could take hold. On the environmental side, I foresaw not just policy shifts but a revolution in attitudes toward managing natural resources, with water playing a pivotal role. Almost 10 years on, how close was this to today's reality? Looking ahead to 2033, will these trends continue? Remember, for The Personal View, 'expected' in the context of this forecast, was stated as being 'disorderly, disruptive, fiery, unexpected, and transformative change that upends the status quo, sweeps away what has served historically, and installs deep structural change'. In 2016, I closed the note with a challenge: 'In 18 years, we will see to what extent this view is verifiable.' At the halfway point, that question remains open and is worth asking again today. Do these trends reflect what you see unfolding in the USA? Share your perspective and join the conversation on the next 18 years of transformation. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
2 hours ago
- The Citizen
Syria coastal massacres show signs of war crimes, UN says
More than 1 700 people were killed in March violence along Syria's Mediterranean coast. A UN commission investigating sectarian bloodshed in Syria's Alawite heartland documented systematic violence at the hands of government forces and allied groups, warning Thursday that some of the acts could constitute war crimes. The violence in March unfolded along Syria's predominantly Alawite Mediterranean coast, where security personnel and their allies were accused of carrying out summary executions, mostly targeting civilians from the religious minority, with a war monitor saying more than 1 700 people were killed. The Syrian foreign ministry said it was committed to 'incorporating the (commission's) recommendations into the ongoing process of institution-building' and of consolidating the rule of law. War crime-like acts The UN commission said in its report on Thursday that the violence committed by 'members of the interim government forces and private individuals operating alongside or in proximity to them… followed a systematic pattern across multiple, widespread locations'. 'The violations included acts that likely amount to war crimes,' it said. The commission documented cases of 'murder, torture and inhumane acts related to the treatment of the dead, widespread looting and burning of homes all of which displaced tens of thousands of civilians'. Syria's new authorities have accused gunmen loyal to ousted ruler Bashar al-Assad of instigating the violence by launching deadly attacks that killed dozens of security personnel. The UN commission also found that pro-Assad forces were implicated in the violence. 'Deeply disturbing' Human rights groups and international organisations have said entire families were killed, including women, children and the elderly. ALSO READ: Syrians protest Sweida killings in London, Paris Gunmen stormed homes and asked residents whether they were Alawite or Sunni before killing or sparing them, they said. The UN commission documented similar cases involving the killing of Alawite men. During his rule, Assad — himself an Alawite — cultivated an image as a defender of minorities, even as his authoritarian tendencies plunged the country into civil war. Since his December ouster at the hands of Islamist-led rebels, the violence on the coast and in south Syria's Druze heartland have raised questions about the new authorities' ability to provide security and manage sectarian tensions. The UN commission — which said it had been granted 'unfettered access' to the area by the post-Assad government — based its findings on more than 200 interviews with victims and witnesses. It said there were 'reasonable grounds to believe' that members of the security forces and other private individuals engaged in 'serious violations of international human rights law'. 'The scale and brutality of the violence documented in our report is deeply disturbing,' said commission chair Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, urging accountability and expanded efforts to arrest perpetrators. ALSO READ: New Syria PM says all religious groups' rights 'guaranteed' 'Serious note' The commission said it 'continues to receive information about ongoing violations in many of the affected areas, including abductions of women, arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances'. It said it had 'found no evidence of a governmental policy or plan' to carry out the attacks, though their systematic nature 'in certain locations may be indicative of an organisational policy within certain factions or groups'. In a letter to the commission, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said the government took 'serious note of the alleged violations', saying they 'appear to be consistent with the findings' of the Syrian inquiry. US envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack called the report 'a serious step towards definable and traceable metrics to the Syrian government's responsibility, transparency and accountability'. Investigations into recent violence The commission said it was also investigating recent violence in Syria's Druze-majority Sweida province that it said highlighted the urgency of implementing the report's recommendations. In its own inquiry, the committee formed by the Syrian authorities documented 'serious violations against civilians' in March. The committee confirmed 'the names of 1 426 dead, including 90 women', and identified '298 individuals by name' who were suspected of involvement in the violations. NOW READ: 'Tread carefully': What fall of Assad regime in Syria means for SA
The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
Warren Hammond's Personal View: The ceasefire that isn't - August's rising risk
Trump deploys two nuclear submarines after provocative Russian comments. Published before events accelerate, why August may become the most geopolitically frustrating month in years. August will be a geopolitically frustrating month, and history shows that such frustration often leads to missteps. Here's why the so-called 'ceasefire' masks rising systemic risk, and what investors must prepare for now. History warns us: frustration breeds miscalculation. Just ask 1962. Or 1951. This article explains: Why the Israel–Iran 'ceasefire' is a mirage How August echoes Cold War brinkmanship What investors must do to prepare for volatility and escalation In my July article, 'Fragile Highs – July Is Vulnerable', I explicitly warned that what was being publicly described as a ceasefire between Israel and Iran was, in reality, a fragile pause, not a sustainable peace. Lifting the illusory curtain of calm revealed, as warned, that while direct conflict has been avoided, indirect hostilities have intensified. Military operations resumed across Gaza and Syria, reflecting a regional strategy of containment and escalation. Both flashpoints highlight ongoing efforts to counter regional influence through indirect conflict dynamics, without triggering confrontation. Since April, The Personal View has issued multiple warnings, forecasting geopolitical instability through June and July: Tension between Iran and Israel The ongoing Russia–Ukraine war Renewed US–China friction Cyber and energy vulnerabilities That outlook is now materialising. Such periods don't just bring volatility; they cause gridlock. Delays, diplomatic bottlenecks, and miscommunication dominate. For governments and institutions, this is dangerous: decision fatigue and rising escalation risk. Frustration will define August. For geopolitical actors, from Washington and Tehran to Moscow, Brussels, and Beijing, this is a month of diminishing patience and rising constraints. Tactical frustration risks strategic overreach. While history never repeats perfectly, past moments of institutional strain offer sobering lessons: The 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, brinkmanship and communication breakdown The 1951 Korean War escalation, a regional conflict, turned Cold War flashpoint WWII's turning points, miscalculations that irreversibly shifted the global order Not inevitable, each triggered by distrust, delay, and frustration. Today carries similar hallmarks. What we are witnessing is not resolution, it is redirection. The Iran–Israel conflict hasn't ended; it has simply shifted form. Beneath the surface, tensions remain elevated. August brings rising risk. Investors should position accordingly: Hedge exposures Reduce fragility Prepare for volatility spikes Frustration fuels miscalculation. And August is built for both. What do you think about President Trump's warning to Putin and the rising geopolitical tensions this August? Share your thoughts below. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
