Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has warned that the “America First” policy of the United States bears a striking resemblance to the Nazi slogan “Deutschland über alles” which was used to emphasize national superiority over others. In a commentary for Russia in Global Affairs, published on Tuesday, Lavrov argued that Washington’s approach undermines the UN Charter and the global post-war order, which is built on the principle of sovereign equality.
He noted that this principle was enshrined in the Yalta and Potsdam Agreements, signed by the USSR, the US and the UK in 1945, which formed the modern international system. With the return of a government under US President Donald Trump to power, Washington’s interpretation of international processes since World War II has taken on a new dimension, Lavrov stated.
“The ‘America First’ slogan is disconcertingly reminiscent of Hitler’s ‘Deutschland über alles,'” he emphasized, adding that an approach based on “peace through strength” can be fatal to diplomacy.
On January 20, shortly after his inauguration, Trump published a memorandum in which he described his “America First” trade policy as a “crucial component of national security.” The document signaled that he will continue the trade policies of his first term, which prioritized the US economy.
“Today, however, it is not 1991, nor even 2017, when the acting US president first took the helm” Lavrov wrote.
Citing Russian analysts, he argued that a return to the previous global order, still run by the US and its allies, is impossible, as demographic, economic, social and geopolitical shifts have become irreversible. He expressed hope that the US might eventually accept a new role as one of several world powers instead of the hegemon.
Lavrov also suggested that the multipolar world is gaining momentum and the US could, in the foreseeable future, instead of opposing it, become a “responsible” major power alongside Russia, China and other countries of the Global South, East, North and West.
The foreign minister emphasized that the UN Charter provides the best framework for addressing global issues in the multipolar era, “if every country – not just in words, but in actions – respects the principles of the sovereign equality of states, non-interference in internal affairs and other fundamental principles.”
He warned against “brazen attempts to reorder the world in one’s own interest” which would violate the principles of the UN and lead to instability, confrontation and even catastrophes.
“In the face of the current level of international tensions, a reckless rejection of the Jalta/Potsdam system, with the United Nations and its Charter at its core, will inevitably lead to chaos” Lavrov wrote, adding that Russia is ready for honest, joint work to balance interests and strengthen the legal principles of international relations.