Daily Times

“Diplomacy is more than saying or doing the right things at the right time, it is avoiding saying or doing the wrong things at anytime”; stated renowned author Bo Bennett.

The current state of diplomatic affairs between key international players, ironically, appears to be an intentional neglect of the aforementioned idea of diplomacy.

While the present time calls for a stable, and unified world, working together in the wake of the grave challenges confronting humanity; the unprecedented eruption of diplomatic strife suggests otherwise. The changing landscape of global diplomacy owes its prevalence to the emergence of rather aggressive political leaderships.

The global movers and shakers are apparently more concerned with the active pursuance of their individual national interests. International platforms such as the United Nations, on the other hand, have lagged behind in establishing the much required balance in pursuance of global interests by ensuring purposeful diplomatic outreach at a larger scale.

The effective inaction on part of the UN has encouraged the more influential countries such as the United States, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, etc. to resort to diplomatic aggression in dealing with their counterparts. To state the obvious, diplomatic aggression often leads to creation of isolated interest groups who eventually, in worst case scenarios, are ready to resort to use of force in pursuit of their sought after interests.

Although diplomatic rifts between countries, owing to conflict of interest and ideology, are not new phenomena, the ongoing severity of diplomatic turbulence is alarming.

With Donald Trump assuming the office of President, the US has visibly followed an aggressive foreign policy. The post Trump US diplomacy is more black and white, with diminishing grey areas. What started as a dispute between Trump and Trudeau during the G-7 session over the imposition of trade tariffs is now fuelling worries of a possible trade war amid the escalating US-Canada tensions.

With Donald Trump assuming the office of President, the US has visibly followed an aggressive foreign policy.

While the war of words between the two leaders heated up, Trump went on to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, a step that seemingly infuriated the EU, Canada, and Mexico. With the White House advisors backing Trump’s decision, the Canadian diplomats are still struggling to mend the deteriorating relationship with its largest trade partner.

Canada, however, is not the only problematic country for the US. The diplomatic spat goes beyond, and has extended to Turkey, with the arrest of American pastor, Andrew Brunson, during the failed coup attempt two years back, on charges of extending support to terrorism. The escalating tensions between the two countries have severely affected Turkey’s economy, with Lira falling to an all new low. The differences between the two countries also stand tall over the US’s support for Kurd rebels against the Islamic State in northern Syria. Nevertheless, critical to US interests and strategic goals in the Middle-Eastern region, the possibility of a two-way deal with Turkey cannot be ruled out.

The diplomatic row between Turkey and the European Union (EU) has also deepened amid the Turkish demand to hold political rallies in EU countries, ahead of a referendum in Turkey back in April. With the German and Dutch authorities blocking multiple Turkish political rallies, the re-elected President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, slammed the German Chancellor Angela Merkel for resorting to ‘Nazi measures’. The tensions between Germany and Turkey further intensified following the jailing of German human rights activist, Peter Steudtner and journalist Deniz Yucelin on charges of association with terrorist groups attempting to destabilize the Turkish government.

The Turkish President went on to accuse Merkel of supporting the Dutch Prime Minister in the ongoing diplomatic crisis with Turkey. Erdogan labelled the Netherlands as responsible for Europe’s worst mass killing, and called Merkel as being no different from the Dutch. Despite high tensions, the German authorities, in a wise move, have until now sought to refrain from burning bridges with the NATO ally, allowing the two sides to gain time in order to overcome the now dominant acerbity.

The vehement approach adopted by the Turkish President may very well end up jeopardizing the long held Turkish dream of being accepted as a member of the EU. Combined with tensions with the US, the Turkish economy may very well collapse. Given such a situation, however, an alienated Turkey may bend towards Russia, and China for economic relief, putting the US and EU strategic interests in the region at risk, and the security of the region as well.

In recent developments, Canada is once again under diplomatic fire; this time from an outraged Saudi Kingdom. Apparently the Canadian expression of concern over political liberalization in Saudi Arabia, amid the arrest of civil society activists, has cost the former severely with the latter imposing trade sanctions, calling on 16000 of its students to relocate immediately, and issuing 24 hour deadline to the Canadian ambassador to leave the country.

The aggressive reaction by KSA is being looked upon by many as an exhibition of power by the young crown bearer. The US, a close ally of the Kingdom, has so far remained silent on the issue, and seems unlikely that it will extend support to Canada.

Across these diplomatic divides critical to the changing world scenario, Pakistan might find itself at a decisive juncture. With the new parliament sworn in, and the PTI led government ready to take charge following the oath taking ceremony of Imran Khan, Pakistan must resort to balanced, mutually beneficial, and interest based strategic partnerships, rather than resorting to the trends of the past by merely falling in line with the US.

IK’s winning speech highlighted his preferences for proceedings on the diplomatic front. However, in order to broaden Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach and ensure its elevation, the country not only requires a dynamic Foreign Minister, it also needs Khan to take personal role in this endeavour. With a positive role, Pakistan may assist in mending the diplomatic divides, for the greater good.

The writer is an Islamabad based freelance opinion writer and columnist

Published in Daily Times, August 15^th 2018.