Rules-Based Order: America Sets The Rules, And Orders Its Allies To Be Complicit

  • TDS News
  • U.S.A
  • May 28, 2024

The Hypocrisy of the “Rules-Based Order”: A Double Standard in International Law

Image Credit, Dwinslow3

In recent months, Western political leaders and media have fervently promoted the concept of a “rules-based order.” The United States, supported by Germany and the United Kingdom, claims to uphold a global system where international norms and laws are respected. However, a closer look reveals this concept as a guise for American hegemony, where the U.S. sets the rules and expects its allies to follow, often disregarding international law when convenient. The hypocrisy of this approach is starkly evident in the Biden administration’s contrasting responses to the crises in Gaza and Ukraine.

The Biden administration’s stance on Gaza highlights a blatant double standard in applying international law. As the world witnesses the destruction of Gaza and the horrific human rights violations against Palestinians, the U.S. has largely remained indifferent. Despite overwhelming evidence of war crimes, the administration has refrained from meaningful action against Israel, offering unwavering support under the guise of Israel’s right to self-defense, even as the humanitarian crisis deepens.

In stark contrast, the Biden administration has been vocal in condemning Russian actions in Ukraine. Following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its support for separatists in Eastern Ukraine, the U.S. led efforts to impose sanctions and isolate Russia diplomatically. The rhetoric intensified with Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with calls for accountability and justice, including urging the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes.

These contrasting responses highlight a glaring double standard. When Russia violates international law, the response is moral outrage and action. When Israel commits similar violations, there is silence. This inconsistency undermines the credibility of the “rules-based order,” revealing it as a tool for advancing American geopolitical interests rather than a genuine commitment to international norms.

A particularly contentious aspect of the U.S.’s “rules-based order” is its tendency to deflect attention by criticizing other countries, especially China and African nations. Despite frequent accusations, China is not the one dropping bombs globally or maintaining hundreds of military bases. It does not operate with a trillion-dollar defense budget backed by an industrialized military complex. These distractions serve to divert scrutiny from the U.S. and its allies’ actions, painting convenient villains while obscuring their own transgressions.

This selective application of international law erodes the U.S. and its allies’ credibility globally, breeding cynicism and mistrust, especially in the Global South. The perception that international law is wielded selectively undermines America’s moral authority and diminishes its ability to lead on global issues. This hypocrisy emboldens other countries to flout international norms, knowing enforcement is arbitrary and politically motivated.

The double standard has a profound human cost. In Gaza, innocent civilians suffer as the international community turns a blind eye. Families are torn apart, lives are lost, and a generation grows up in despair. The failure to hold Israel accountable perpetuates violence and fuels resentment, serving as a recruitment tool for extremist groups and posing a broader threat to global security.

If the U.S. and its allies genuinely commit to a “rules-based order,” they must apply the rules consistently and impartially, holding all violators accountable, regardless of political alignment or strategic importance. Recognizing the suffering of all peoples equally and supporting international institutions like the ICC is essential for true justice.

The concept of a “rules-based order” is noble in theory but flawed in practice if applied selectively. The Biden administration’s contrasting stances on Gaza and Ukraine reveal the hypocrisy at the heart of this concept, showing it as a tool for advancing American interests rather than a genuine commitment to international law.

For the “rules-based order” to have legitimacy, it must be applied consistently and impartially. The international community must hold all violators accountable, regardless of political alignment or strategic importance, to build a world where justice and human rights are respected equally. Only then can the U.S. and its allies claim to be true champions of a rules-based international order.

Summary

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