The art of negotiation: Trump, Korea and Israel

News Mondays - Clément Guntern

Trump’s approach to negotiating with countries such as North Korea or Israel seems indicative of a decline in diplomacy. Worse still, the U.S. president appears to be overly confident and to view others as incompetent.

From the very beginning of his term, Donald Trump tasked his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, with proposing a peace plan between the Israelis and Palestinians. Over the past few days, the first details have been leaked. In short, there is no question of reversing the concessions made to the Israeli government—such as the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital or sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Furthermore, the so-called two-state solution (one for the Palestinians and the other for the Israelis) will certainly not be adopted, contrary to what the majority of the international community has believed for decades.

The report was drafted by a small group of prominent figures known for their support of Israeli policy. Given that, how can we expect this peace plan not to become a farce if a significant number of its key points are definitively decided against one side?

Meanwhile, far from Palestine, President Trump set out to tackle the second major headache in U.S. foreign policy: North Korea. A thorn in the side of every American president since the 1950s, Donald Trump had declared—with all due restraint—that he would secure a peace agreement and the denuclearization of the peninsula. And how, pray tell? A good, firm handshake, a frank discussion between guys, and that’s it. Since then, the setbacks seem to be piling up: missile launches and disagreements over the very meaning of denuclearization.

The Reign of Self-Confidence

These two examples exemplify the reign of blind and absolute self-confidence in his charisma and intelligence. Mr. Trump believes in himself and in his ability to accomplish anything, since he became president of the United States despite having no political experience. It’s hard to disagree with him… Where his rhetoric—and that of his administration—sounds insincere is when he says that everyone who has tried to solve these kinds of problems before him is incompetent. He, on the other hand, knows. He knows how the economy works and how interpersonal relationships function in business.

In fact, the business world does not seem far from his mind when he discusses the Israeli and North Korean issues. Jared Kushner recently explained that the problem must be resolved first and foremost through the economic development of the Palestinian territories. On the other hand, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo continually addresses the North Koreans, promising them the wealth that comes with rapid economic development and emphasizing their country’s economic potential. The exclusively economic approach as the foundation for everything.

Since the start of his term, Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that he will find a solution to these two issues and succeed where others have failed. He negotiates by dictating the terms and addressing the most sensitive issues so that his opponent will yield on the rest. But the political stakes are so complex… The hardest part for him will likely be returning to his voters after negotiations fail to explain his mistakes. But that’s not how it works with him: he turns the situation into a victory through his bad faith—or his wildest folly. Stay positive above all else; keep your head held high, no matter the cost.

Does the Trump administration really want a peace agreement, or is this just a way to buy time so the Israeli government can continue its settlement activities? Here’s the irony: North Korea has been doing exactly that for a long time. Either the outcome of the negotiations will be favorable to it, or it can buy time to develop its nuclear arsenal—all hidden behind the Trump-Kim meetings. Negotiation and diplomacy have certainly lost their meaning.

Photo credits: Wikimedia

Write to the author: clement.guntern@leregardlibre.com