Donroe doctrine. Trump, Australia and the ‘Rules Based Order’

President Trump has adopted the view that ‘might is right’ in international relations. What does this mean for smaller countries that are not so powerful? former senator Rex Patrick he asks.

Donald Trump’s new ‘Donroe doctrine‘ sentence has been applied to the kidnapping of the President of Venezuela, threats to neighboring Colombia, and threats to take Greenland by force. These are clear violations or proposed violations of the UN Charter.

The United Nations Charter plays a fundamental role in the international rules-based order. It sets forth the basic legal principles that determine how states should behave towards each other.

Article 2, paragraph 4, of the Charter states:

“All Members shall refrain in their international relations from threatening or using force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State or in any manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.”

Trump is having none of this.

Rules-based order is at the door; imperialism is back.

Nuclear Weapons for Denmark?

With Trump threatening to take Greenland by force if necessary, perhaps some in Denmark might reconsider the country’s non-nuclear weapons policy?

In the past, there have been discussions on collective issues regarding nuclear weapons in Denmark, Greenland, and the United States. Denmark has maintained covert hypocrisy by adopting a nuclear-weapons-free stance while allowing the United States to store nuclear weapons at Thule Air Base in northwestern Greenland and fly nuclear-armed B-52s in its airspace.

These secrets were revealed in 1968 when an airborne alert U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber caught fire and crashed near Thule while carrying four hydrogen bombs, scattering radioactive debris over the crash site. The accident caused a political crisis in which nuclear weapons were banned from Greenlandic territory and airspace.

If we go back to 2026, the truth is that no one in Denmark is discussing the development of nuclear weapons; Rather, there is discussion of invoking the NATO agreement in the defense of Greenland should Trump attempt to seize it by force, and there are no doubt discussions taking place behind the scenes to ensure that Europe unites in sanctions against the United States.

Quiet diplomacy will be employed to deter reckless action by the US President.

By the way, Denmark has not signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

Winners and losers

The winners of Trump’s “I don’t need international law” attitude were Russian President Putin, in terms of his ongoing operations in Ukraine, and Chinese President Xi, in terms of his goals of reunifying Taiwan.

But other countries should be worried; Panama and Iran, for starters. Iran has long been suspected of pursuing a nuclear weapons capability, and there will now be a stronger argument that it is justified in doing so.

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Most countries have refused to go down the path of nuclear weapons, content to sit under the nuclear umbrella offered by the US, but ‘possibility is true’ may cause reconsideration in some of these countries.

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un will sit there with a smug “I was right” grin on his face, stating that he already has the ability to counter the ‘power’ with his own sovereign nuclear weapons capability.

Australia’s dilemma

Former Labor foreign ministers Bob Carr and Gareth Evans are now was called The government must urgently reconsider Australia’s alliance with the United States. Evans says Trump’s “zero respect” for international law is a “wake-up call”.

It is fortunate that Labor leaders are comfortable with hypocrisy, promising transparency and operating with secrecy, committing to protect whistleblowers and pursuing the same causes. And while they embrace Trump, approve new coal and gas production, and promote a rules-based order, they promise to fight climate change.

Little leadership can be expected from our current foreign minister, Senator Wong. Despite his repeated speeches about the importance of rules-based order, he does not stand up. Wong is great when it comes to talking… always welcome… but the record shows

Wong clearly lacks the conviction to make difficult moral choices.

Including voting no on the Gay Marriage amendment in the Senate in 2008.

Trump’s moral compass

But perhaps we shouldn’t really worry about the lack of commitment to foreign policy principles in Australian politics. Because Trump has assured us all that his morality is the limit of his global power.

Never mind the fact that he’s been convicted of 34 felonies, that he’s a womanizer, and whatever he’s up to with Epstein. Then you’ll feel much, much better about what’s going on.

Join Michael with Rex Patrick and Professor Emily Crawford as they discuss this topic live today (January 14) at 6pm.