By: Okoi Obono-Obla The gunboat diplomacy which President Donald Trump is employing in his bellicose foreign policy—both econom...
By: Okoi Obono-Obla
The gunboat diplomacy which President Donald Trump is employing in his bellicose foreign policy—both economically and politically—to hand‑twist, browbeat, and even blackmail other countries into supporting his position in order to have his way is intriguing. It will surely expand the frontier of knowledge on international law, international relations, and international trade law.
I wonder aloud, having read on BBC News on 16 January 2026, about President Trump threatening to impose high‑biting tariffs on countries in Europe in particular, and globally in general, if they refuse to accept his bid to annex Greenland either through a buy‑off or militarily. President Trump has changed the rules of international trade law by now using every tool at his disposal to pressure other nations into supporting his bellicose foreign policy. He does so by visiting them with high tariffs, which ordinarily run counter to the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO)—an institution that evolved through rules‑based dialogue, negotiation, and consensus.
President Trump has truly turned the world upside down. The WTO has been rendered otiose, as the United States of America has consistently refused to consent to the appointment of judges to the WTO Appellate Body on the flimsy ground that the Court is against U.S. interests. Indeed, as of late 2025, the United States had blocked the appointment process more than 90 times, leaving all seven seats vacant and paralyzing the dispute settlement system. This unprecedented obstruction has undermined the enforcement function of the WTO and cast doubt on the future of rules‑based global trade.
Conclusion:
President Trump’s aggressive use of tariffs and threats of annexation, combined with America’s refusal to allow the WTO Appellate Body to function, has destabilized the foundations of international trade law. What was once a system built on consensus and negotiation has now been overshadowed by unilateralism and coercion. The world is witnessing a dramatic shift in global trade governance—one that may redefine the balance of power in international law and relations.
@ Okoi Obono-Obla
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