On December 10, 2021, the US authorities aka Joe Biden administration introduced monetary sanctions and different restrictions on 15 people and 10 entities in China, Myanmar, North Korea, and Bangladesh. Which coincided with Worldwide Human Rights Day. Days earlier than imposing sanctions, Biden held his much-ballyhooed summit on “democracy” the place is invited various controversial nations, together with terror-patron Pakistan.
Whereas the vast majority of the democratic nations had been ignored on this humorous summit, enjoying the democracy card has additionally exacerbated already severe tensions between the Biden administration and Russia and China. Each powers interpret the summit as an effort to enlist different nations in a hostile, containment coverage directed towards them. In truth, this summit was the brazen hypocrisy of the US coverage on democracy, and the important thing motive behind this summit was truly not selling or encouraging democracy, as a substitute, it was a worldwide show-off of Joe Biden, a president whose approval rankings are deep down the water.
The invitation checklist to Biden’s summit underscores that america’ double customary on democracy is alive and nicely. Though the administration excluded the entire governments which are apparent, indeniable autocracies, a few of the invitees warranted a response of shock, if not outright disgust, from folks actually dedicated to democratic norms. Regardless of the State Division’s personal studies confirming that Pakistan and the Philippines are often responsible of “extrajudicial killings” and different civil liberties abuses, representatives of each governments will take part within the summit. Likewise, Brazil is given the distinction of offering enter on democracy promotion regardless of its personal dramatic backsliding into authoritarian practices lately. Kosovo additionally made the invitation checklist, although key members of the nation’s political elite face prices of struggle crimes and crimes towards humanity earlier than a global tribunal. Fees, on this case, embrace the systematic homicide of prisoners of struggle to promote their organs on the worldwide black market.
In keeping with political analysts, US leaders need India to change into an lively member of a containment coverage directed towards China. Each the Trump and Biden administrations lobbied aggressively to transform the Quadrilateral Safety Dialogue, generally often called the Quad, which has Japan, Australia, India, and america as members, right into a army alliance for that objective. Though the Quad has performed a rising variety of joint army workout routines, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi has so far avoided making that coverage dedication, however Washington’s courtship continues. Brazil is a key financial and political participant within the Western Hemisphere, and Washington is particularly involved about President Jair Bolsonaro’s authorities and its rising financial ties with Russia and China. Given this geopolitical context, Biden administration officers won’t permit defects in both nation’s home governance to be an impediment to strategic aims.
Joe Biden has invited smaller international locations with extremely questionable democratic credentials to get America’s imprimatur for the democracy summit was to obediently comply with Biden’s management of essential worldwide points.
Joe Biden’s outrageous sanctions
The latest sanctions and different restrictions introduced by the US Treasury Division and Division of State though have primarily focused a Chinese language firm with funding restrictions, which is linked to the mass authorities surveillance operations.
Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo stated that Treasury is utilizing its instruments to reveal and maintain accountable perpetrators of great human rights abuse. The measures embrace a ban on journey to the US.
A reputable supply in Capitol Hill instructed me that the sanctions are supposed to freeze the focused people and entities out of the worldwide monetary system. It additionally stated that the world of sanction might get widened inside the span of the subsequent couple of months.
What ought to Bangladesh do for getting these sanctions eliminated?
The USA has additionally imposed sanctions on the Inspector Basic of Police in addition to Bangladesh’s Particular Police Fast Motion Battalion (RAB) and 6 of its officers. It could be talked about right here that, RAB has been effectively combating terrorism and radical Islamic jihad. As america has been repeatedly proclaiming itself because the chief of worldwide efforts of combating terrorism, non secular extremism, and radical Islamic jihad, by imposing sanctions on Fast Motion Battalion and 6 officers of this elite drive, Joe Biden administration actually has proven its double-standard as soon as once more. In my private opinion, with Biden because the president of the US, the insurance policies of america have been extraordinarily doubtful and, in some circumstances, even outrageous, particularly once we see their dealing with of Houthi terrorists, Taliban jihadists, Hamas terrorists, and terror-patron Iran. It appears Biden’s America is extra lively in appeasing terrorism and radical Islamic jihad, as a substitute of combating these evil forces.
Instantly after the sanctioning announcement, Bangladesh has expressed dismay and referred to as the US ambassador to Dhaka, Earl R. Miller to convey the message of dissatisfaction.
Some analysts stated, the US may need very unwell motives behind this. Bangladesh is an lively member of the China-run Bridge and Highway Initiative (BRI). Truly, Bangladesh didn’t present curiosity to affix the US-led ‘QUAD’, which truly is an anti-China bloc. One other subject is that the US desires to signal two protection agreements with Bangladesh because the latter is in search of to purchase superior tools from the US as a part of its objective to modernize the army by 2030. However Bangladesh didn’t present curiosity to signal the ‘Basic Safety of Navy Data Settlement (GSOMIA)’ and the ‘Acquisition Cross-Servicing Settlement (ACSA)’ settlement with the USA.
In my private opinion, the latest sanctions on Fast Motion Battalion and few people in Bangladesh may be a results of a misunderstanding. It could even be a results of steady propaganda of sure vested curiosity teams and their lobbyists within the US. It’s impractical to assume, Washington has change into hostile in direction of Dhaka. As an alternative, we have to take fast steps in resolving this matter by way of efficient measures and pleasant dialogues. One level is essential to notice – america will not be an enemy of Bangladesh. As an alternative, it is among the largest growth companions. Out of whims, we must always not do something now which might complicate issues additional.