‘Patriots,’ not ‘globalists’

US President Donald Trump made a fresh attack against the global order yesterday in a speech before the United Nations, saying that “globalists” would not triumph.

He also talked tough on global issues. He particularly denounced Iran’s “blood lust” and called on other nations to join the United States to pressure Iran after attacks on Saudi oil facilities but said there is a path to peace.

“The future does not belong to globalists. The future belongs to patriots,” Trump said.

“The future belongs to sovereign and independent nations who protect their citizens, respect their neighbors and honor the differences that make each country special and unique,” he said.

In his third annual appearance at the United Nations, Trump offered a more subdued tone compared to the bombast of his previous speeches to the UN in 2017 and 2018, looking to convey a more reassuring presence as he asks Americans for a second term next year despite a fresh push for his impeachment among some Democrats.

While offering his habitual defense of national sovereignty, Trump tempered his language toward Iran, stressing the US desire for peaceful relations with all and calling for collective, rather than unilateral, action.

The Sept 14 attacks in Saudi Arabia have rattled the Middle East and raised concerns about a broader war. Trump has shown restraint in the crisis, holding back from military retaliation despite pressure from conservative hawks, at least for now.

Trump had a stern message for China and its president, Xi Jinping, with whom he is locked in a trade war that is damaging both their economies. He said the world is watching how Beijing handles mass demonstrations in Hong Kong that have raised concerns about a potential Chinese crackdown.

“How China chooses to handle the situation will say a great deal about its role in the word in the future. We are all counting on President Xi as a great leader,” he said.

French President Emmanuel Macron, trying to create conditions for talks between the United States and Iran, said he hoped there could be progress on Iran after he held talks with Rouhani on Monday.

Trump said he wanted to strike a “magnificent trade deal” with Britain as it prepares to leave the European Union.

He warned that the United States was watching the situation in Venezuela “very closely,” as it unleashed new sanctions targeting the crisis-wracked country’s ties with Cuba.