In his address to the United Nations General Assembly, the US president threatened to “totally destroy North Korea”. Also in his sights, is Iran.

It was a question of  “rogue states” , Iran and North Korea: Donald Trump, in his first highly anticipated speech – and dreaded – before the United Nations this Tuesday morning in New York, had the airs of George W. Bush, with his famous 2002 formula on  “The Axis of Evil” . The current tenant of the White House has not gone dead hand:  “The United States has a lot of strength and patience. But if we push them to defend themselves or their allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea. ”

North Korea and its “Rocket Man”

Speaking to the leaders of the 193 member states of the UN, Donald Trump devoted much of his speech to attacking the “degenerate” regime   in Pyongyang, which continues to develop its nuclear arsenal, and with which tension is more strong than ever. Nicknamed Kim Jong-un  “Rocket Man”  , he accused him of being embarked on  “a suicide mission for himself and his regime. The United States is ready, willing and able. But let’s hope it’s not necessary. ”

“If the many virtuous nations do not attack the few rogue states, we will not advance,  ” he warned. The destructive forces will continue to grow if we do not act. “  If this belligerent language is not the norm in a often policed ​​UN arena, Donald Trump had already made use of it at the beginning of August, promising  ” fire and rage in of the proportions that this world has never known before “  if North Korea did not cease its provocations.

Iran, a “corrupt dictatorship”

In his 45-minute speech – the rule is set at fifteen minutes by head of state or government, but few adhere to it, as a typical Barack Obama speeches of one hour – Donald Trump also attacked Iran, the  “rogue state”  and  “corrupt dictatorship behind the deceptive mask of democracy”.

“We can not allow a deadly regime to continue its destabilizing activities … and we can not respect an agreement if it is used to cover the possible establishment of a nuclear program,” insisted the US president rostrum. The nuclear agreement reached in 2015 between Iran and six signatory countries (the permanent members of the Security Council and Germany) is  “one of the worst and most biased transactions in which the United States is ever entered. Frankly, this agreement is an embarrassment to the United States and I do not think you have finished hearing about it. Believe me, “  warned Donald Trump, without clearly disclosing his intentions.

The US president must tell Congress in mid-October whether he believes Tehran is meeting its commitments, as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) estimates. Trump’s attitude suggests that he may not certify that Iran is complying with the agreement, which would pave the way for a restoration of sanctions by Congress, condemning a negotiated text for a dozen years. And would open the way to  “a spiral of proliferation,” worried Monday morning the head of the French diplomacy, Jean-Yves Le Drian. The agreement urged Iran to limit its nuclear program, in exchange for a gradual lifting of international sanctions against it.

Speaking a few hours after Trump, Emmanuel Macron reworked his speech in reaction to that of the American president, surrounded notably by his ministers Le Drian and Hulot. In the rostrum, he firmly defended the ” solid and verifiable ” agreement with Tehran. “To denounce it would be a big mistake, not to respect it would be irresponsible,”  he said, assuring him to have said Monday to the American and Iranian presidents.

“America First”

Faithful to its slogan “America First”, President Trump began his speech with an astonishing satisfaction on the good condition of his country:  “The United States has done very well since the presidential elections. The stock market is at the highest level, the unemployment rate is at its lowest, ”  he said. 

In a fairly balanced exercise, he developed his philosophy of international co-operation, which he said was not incompatible with nationalism:  “The success of the United Nations depends on the strength and independence of each member” . Using anaphora, he insisted on the need for  “strong and sovereign nations . “

“I will always place America first ,” he told the heads of state and government of the world. I was elected not to take power, but to give power to the American people. “

Climate change

Donald Trump did not say a word about climate change in his speech, unlike all the leaders who have so far succeeded to the rostrum on Tuesday. And in particular the Secretary-General, António Guterres, who devoted part of his speech to it. And in the second sentence:  “Insecurity is gaining ground, inequalities are increasing, conflicts are spreading, and climate change is accelerating.”  “Millions of human beings are threatened by rising levels of sea ​​and climatic changes of any kind; the material losses would amount to thousands of billions “, listed the Secretary General, calling on the community to implement the Paris agreement. The same agreement that Donald Trump United States announced their withdrawal in June. The French president reminded him: ” This agreement will not be renegotiated. It binds us. It brings us together. Destroying it would destroy a pact that is not only between states but between generations. ”

“Growing tensions and errors of appreciation often go hand in hand,”  António Guterres warned, anticipating the virulence of Donald Trump’s speech against North Korea. Flaming remarks can lead to irremediable misunderstandings. The solution must be political and leaders must be wise. React! Let us not be drawn into the war. ”
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