Voldy Mirzelensky's recent meeting at the White House was a disaster. All progressive critics then rushed to declare that the rules-based international orders were on the brink of collapse. The delusional commentator claimed peace negotiations with Ukraine were allowed Zelenskyy's stubbornness It will spell out the end of international law and national sovereignty.
Their assumptions are flawed. They seem to believe that international law is a higher power that countries can sue, and that the United States has an obligation to support it. In reality, international law and the supranational organizations that appear to enforce it are more likely to threaten the sovereignty of the state than protecting it.
Civilization continues to clash in the great power politics contest and leave small nations going together to ride, whether they want or not.
Sovereignty means holding the highest power. This is the ability to make final decisions without external approval. Sovereign entities may consider the interests of other countries and the limits of power that transnates borders. However, a truly sovereign state does not require permission from international organizations to make decisions.
When leaders appeal to outside authorities to verify their country's sovereignty, they misunderstand what sovereignty means.
Sovereignty was understood correctly
Political philosopher Thomas Hobbes argued that the sovereignty of a nation depends on its ability to protect its citizens. By his definition, a state of inability to protect oneself or borders is not sovereignty. Without protection from hostile forces, a nation cannot survive for a long time. If a country cannot provide its own defense, another political entity will assume its role and, in turn, its sovereignty.
Carl Schmidt reiterated Hobbes' views He wrote:
If people fear the trials and risks implied by their existence in the sphere of politics, others will appear and envision these trials by protecting them from foreign enemies, thereby taking over political control. The guardian decides who the enemy is, thanks to the eternal relationship of protection and obedience.
Despite the brave efforts of many Ukrainian soldiers, Ukraine cannot protect itself without outside help. The Western countries sent hundreds of billions of dollars along with ammunition and advisors to support the Ukrainian army. Still, the Ukrainian army has struggled to retain their position.
Russia has not achieved the level of domination it desires, but the reality is clear. Without support from the US and other NATO allies, Ukraine would soon lose the war.
In theory, there are international laws like NATO and organizations like NATO to protect the sovereignty of countries that cannot withstand a major power like Russia. NATO was established to protect the West from the expansion of the Soviet Union. The threat has disappeared, but the military alliance claims to endure and protect the sovereignty of its members. However, despite losing its main enemy, NATO continues to expand, bringing its borders closer to Russia.
In reality, NATO is the US, and the US is NATO. In 2023, the US provided NATO's $1.3 trillion budget to $83 billion. Germany, the second largest contributor, provided just $61 billion. This funding disparity explains why Donald Trump has repeatedly urged European countries to increase his contributions to NATO and boost his own defense budget.
Previous US administrations have encouraged demilitarization of Europe, pledging to protect the continent with American resources. This arrangement may have played a key role in halting the spread of communism when Europe was recovering from two world wars. However, because the original purpose is fulfilled, NATO now only distorts the true nature of sovereignty.
Ukraine is not sovereign
Officially, Volodymyr Zelenskyy is the president of an independent nation fighting a territorial war against world power. In fact, the United States and its NATO allies are funding a proxy war with Russia. Zelensky must retain important authority, but it is clear that true peace negotiations are taking place between Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Wars can last for years if the US continues to provide financial and military aid. If that support ends, the conflict may be concluded promptly.
The inability of Ukraine to defend itself independence means it cannot control its own destiny. Ukraine is not sovereign, and Zelensky does not make a final decision. During the White House meeting, Zelensky seemed to have forgotten this reality, but Trump didn't hesitate to remind him before showing him the door.
The idea that a collection of “international law” recorded in the Charter of the Supranational Institution can support the sovereignty of small countries is false, but false. When fewer countries appeal to international organisations, it is ultimately appealing to the will of the sovereign states that govern that institution. The moment a country has to resort to others for protection, it renounces its sovereignty.
This geopolitical reality is unsettling for many, as it suggests that most countries are truly sovereigns. Some countries may exercise some level of internal political autonomy, but even so, they may be easily damaged. The US intelligence agency has had a major impact on diplomacy, mainly because many countries rely on the US for their defense.
Samuel Huntington's theory that geopolitics is a conflict between civilization blocs led by major powers has proven accurate. Supranational organizations such as NATO and the “international law” they enforce are merely facades for the will of powerful states that shape global events. Civilization continues to clash in the great power politics contest and leave small nations going together to ride, whether they want or not.
