Clearly, The President Trump administration has jettisoned diplomacy for bullying and blackmailing to enforce its global recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel by threatening to cut off U.S. funding to countries that oppose its decision.
US Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley hinted in a tweet and a letter to most of the 193 U.N. member states on Tuesday that the U.S. would retaliate against countries that vote in favour of a General Assembly resolution calling on the president to rescind his decision.
She said Trump asked her to report back on countries “who voted against us” — and she stressed that the United States “will be taking names.”
On Wednesday in Washington, President before the start of a Cabinet meeting went further, telling reporters that Americans are tired of being taken advantage of and praised the U.S. ambassador for sending the “right message” before the vote.
“For all these nations, they take our money and then vote against us. They take hundreds of millions of dollars, even billions of dollars and then they vote against us,” Trump told reporters at the Cabinet meeting. “We’re watching those votes. Let them vote against us.”
“We’ll save a lot. We don’t care,” he said, alluding to U.S. aid.
Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan responded Thursday by accusing the U.S. of buying support in exchange for foreign aid.
“Mr Trump, you cannot buy Turkey’s democratic will with your dollars,” Erdogan said in a speech in Ankara. “I hope and expect the United States won’t get the result it expects from the (U.N.) and the world will give a very good lesson to the United States.”
Ambassador Rhonda King of the tiny Caribbean nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines sent Haley a letter saying that her country treasures the United States “as an enduring ally” but will vote against Trump’s action.
“Sometimes, friends differ; on Jerusalem, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines respectfully differs from the USA; and so, too, do many of the staunchest friends and allies of the USA,” King wrote. “We gently urge yet again that the government of the USA rethink its position and approach on this entire matter.”
It is projected that over 150 countries, and possibly 180 nations will vote in favour of the resolution. The resolution being voted on Thursday is co-sponsored by Turkey, chair of the summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and Yemen, chair of the Arab Group at the U.N.
