The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Trump

  • Foreign aid: Trump’s return and Nigeria’s future    

    Foreign aid: Trump’s return and Nigeria’s future    

    • By Kunbi Adesokan

    Sir: Donald Trump’s return to the White House has sent shockwaves across the global aid community, raising urgent concerns about the United States’ foreign assistance to Africa. With his administration already pushing aggressive “America First” policies, African nations, like Nigeria, face an uncertain future. If history repeats itself, Trump’s renewed cuts on international funding could unravel decades of progress in healthcare, security, education and economic development.

    The US has long been Africa’s most significant development partner. In 2021 alone, US aid to the continent reached $8bn, supporting critical programmes through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR), and the Millennium Challenge Corporation.

    These funds have strengthened healthcare systems, fuelled economic empowerment and provided relief during humanitarian crises. Trump’s return mean a drastic rollback of these commitments. His reinstatement of the controversial “Mexico City Policy” (Global Gag Rule) has already restricted funding for reproductive health programmes, directly impacting maternal and child healthcare across Africa. Moreover, potential cuts to disease control programmes threaten to reverse progress in the fight against malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.      

    Nigeria on the brink of aid shortfall   Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, has relied on foreign aid to supplement critical sectors.

    In 2022, the country received nearly $800m in US assistance, with the bulk directed towards health, education and humanitarian relief. The Presidential Emergency Plan for Aids Relief alone provided over $7bn since 2003, saving millions of lives.

    Nigeria has implemented many home-grown social security programmes, but their scale remains limited. Initiatives like the National Social Investment Programme and the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme aim to reduce poverty and boost entrepreneurship. However, inconsistent funding and mismanagement hindered their full potential.  

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    The private sector and philanthropists have supported development efforts, but their contributions remain fragmented. Unlike in countries where businesses play a strong role in national development, Nigerian corporate giving is largely unstructured, with Corporate Social Responsibility efforts lacking sustainability and scale. 

    With foreign aid in jeopardy, Nigeria must act swiftly to create sustainable, home-grown solutions.

    This means empowering local NGOs; indigenous organisations with deep community ties must receive greater financial support to drive long-term impact. Nigerian businesses should scale up CSR initiatives to support healthcare, education and economic empowerment. Government and businesses must collaborate to fund large-scale development programmes.

    The withdrawal of US aid presents both a crisis and a clarion call. While it threatens progress in crucial sectors, it also offers Nigeria a chance to redefine its development strategy. By prioritising local funding mechanisms, fostering stronger partnerships and strengthening community-driven initiatives, Nigeria can reduce its dependence on foreign aid and build a more resilient future.  

    The time to act is now!     

     •Kunbi Adesokan 

    Friends of the Environment, Lagos.

  • China welcomes talks between Trump, Putin

    China welcomes talks between Trump, Putin

    China has endorsed the proposed talks between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the resolution of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

    “Russia and the U.S. are both influential powers, and China welcomes their efforts to strengthen communication and dialogue on a range of international issues,” a spokesman for the Beijing Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

    Read Also: Oil price rises on Trump’s trade wars

    China has consistently maintained that negotiations are the only viable path to resolving the crisis.

    From the beginning, President Xi Jinping has aimed for a political solution, the spokesman said.

    Trump spoke with Putin on the phone on Wednesday and agreed to begin negotiations to end the war against Ukraine.

    At the same time, Trump’s administration publicly outlined how it envisions a deal to end the war for the first time – in several aspects aligning with Moscow’s interests.

    (dpa/NAN)

  • Trump’s rule no be moin-moin (1)

    Trump’s rule no be moin-moin (1)

    “Remind me to tell you about the connection between cupcakes, Zee World and the Women’s Corner, later. For now, abeg let us concentrate and watch President Trump’s inauguration,” Sexy Jola told Sharon as she got up from where she was sitting beside Tinu to join her on the sofa by the balcony at Ada’s apartment on Monday evening.

    Ada had invited us to her place to watch the United States President Trump’s inauguration together and that she’ll be treating us to her tasty baked beans (moin-moin) delicacy. On hearing that, those of us who were not working from home made sure we got back early from work to join the revelry. 

    “But come to think of it, Trump’s rule no go be moin-moin,” Tinu said as the inauguration began on TV. Beyond the fact that Ada was a graceful host, we all looked forward to being part of the history-making event, even though we’ll be watching from Ada’s living room; we each didn’t want to miss sharing the moment with the girls. And this time, we had some friends from the estate, like Sharon, joining us for the first time. Mummy Pamilerin was also in the building. We had a full house, so much so that Christabel had to get up for Nurse Cordeliq to sit when she arrived. I too had to join Christabel, Ada and Mummy Fawaz in the kitchen to make space for another lady.

    “I don’t want to’believe Ada’s moin-moin is what has attracted this number of ladies. I also do not believe that America’s presidential inauguration is that important to this women to draw this number. Because I don’t understand,” lamented Christabel.

    “Why are you worrying your fine head so much over it, Chriistal. It should tell you how far the ‘Japa’ syndrome has eaten deep into our fabric as a people. Even those who have never left the country are now very much abreast with global goings-on and other foreign policies as it affects immigrants.,” I interjected.

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    “And who says it’s not my world-famous moi-moi that has attracted them. Lucky, I made enough extras else you girls would have been forced to give up your wraps for our visitors o,” Ada stated. I heaved a sigh of relief, and whispered, “Thank God!” I wasn’t sure I would be generous enough to donate my wrap, I mean Ada delicious moi-moi for the Ada’s “good cause” .

    “What are you ladies chatting about? Is the moin-moin not tasty yet? You girls are missing out on some serious discussions happening out there,” hollered Jola as she peeped through the curtain. “As expected, they must argue over Trump presidency and what it holds for Africa, Nigeria and Nigerians in the diaspora particularly. Let them. We too have had our share,” Ada said, while reminding us of how we followed the US election closely last year. I remember there were different factions in the Women’s Corner. Some were for Democrats, others were diehard Republicans supporters. While those who were bystanders were forced to take a stand. It was as if we were in America. It was the same with our men. “I am looking forward to another evening of rich feast of words,” I said to as former President Clinton and his lovely wife, Hilary, walked in at the inauguration. I was glad there was a TV set in the kitchen else we would have been missing out on the historical event.

  • Oil price rises on Trump’s trade wars

    Oil price rises on Trump’s trade wars

    Oil prices continued to rise for the third day running following the trade sanctions imposed by the US President, Donald Trump.

    According to Reuters, Brent futures rose 86 cents, or 1.1 per cent, to $76.73 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 73 cents, or one per cent to $73.05.

    “With the U.S. bearing down on Iranian exports and sanctions still biting into Russian flows, Asian crude grades remain firm and underpin the rally from yesterday,” said PVM oil analyst John Evans.

    Shipments of Russian oil to leading importers China and India have been significantly disrupted in recent weeks by U.S. sanctions targeting tankers, producers and insurers.

    Russia, however, said yesterday that U.S. sanctions should not affect Moscow’s oil trade with India, the world’s third-biggest importer of crude oil.

    Adding to supply jitters are U.S. sanctions on networks shipping Iranian oil to China after U.S. President Donald Trump restored his “maximum pressure” on Iranian oil exports last week.

    Yesterday’s oil price gains were kept in check by Trump’s latest trade tariffs, which could dampen global growth and energy demand.

    Read Also: Looming aid crisis: How Trump’s return could reshape Nigeria’s future

    On Monday, Trump raised tariffs on steel and aluminium imports to the U.S. to 25 per cent “without exceptions or exemptions.”

    The European Union said it would respond with “firm and proportionate countermeasures,” escalating fears of a trade war.

    “Tariffs and counter-tariffs have the potential to weigh on the oil-intensive part of the global economy in particular, creating uncertainty over demand,” Morgan Stanley said in a note.

    “However, we think this backdrop will probably also cause OPEC+ to extend current production quotas once again.”

  • Arab states reject Trump’s plan for Gaza

    Arab states reject Trump’s plan for Gaza

    Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said Arab states reject U.S. President Donald Trump’s widely condemned plan to displace Palestinians from Gaza and take control of the enclave.

    During a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, Abdelatty emphasised the need to expedite Gaza’s reconstruction while Palestinians remained there.

    A statement from the U.S. State Department following the meeting did not directly address Trump’s plan but emphasised the importance of close cooperation for Gaza’s governance and security, stating that Hamas should never again govern Gaza or threaten Israel.

    According to Egypt’s foreign ministry, Abdelatty expressed hope for working with the new U.S. administration to achieve “comprehensive and just peace and stability” in the region.

    He also met with U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, where he reiterated similar points.

    The Palestinian leadership, supported by neighbouring Arab states, has rejected any proposal to displace Palestinians from Gaza, a region they see as part of an independent state.

    Read Also: Palestinians have no right of return under Gaza plan, says Trump

    This has been a long-standing concern since the Israel-Gaza conflict intensified in October 2023.

    Trump’s initial suggestion on Jan. 25 that Egypt and Jordan should accept Palestinians from Gaza sparked significant backlash.

    His later proposals for a U.S. takeover of Gaza and the potential permanent displacement of Palestinians have been widely criticised, with rights advocates and the United Nations calling it ethnic cleansing.

    The ongoing Israeli military assault, which has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians in the past 16 months, has caused immense suffering, displacement, and a hunger crisis in Gaza. (Reuters/NAN) 

  • Palestinians have no right of return under Gaza plan, says Trump

    Palestinians have no right of return under Gaza plan, says Trump

    United States President Donald Trump has declared that Palestinians would have no right of return to Gaza under his takeover plan, describing his proposal in excerpts of an interview released yesterday as a “real estate development for the future.”

    Trump told Fox News Channel’s Bret Baier that “I would own it” and that there could be as many as six different sites for Palestinians to live outside Gaza under the plan, which the Arab world and others in the international community have rejected.

    “No, they wouldn’t, because they’re going to have much better housing,” Trump said when Baier asked if the Palestinians would have the right to return to the enclave, most of which has been reduced to rubble by Israel’s military since October 2023.

    “In other words, I’m talking about building a permanent place for them because if they have to return now, it’ll be years before you could ever – it’s not habitable.”

    Trump first revealed the shock Gaza plan during a joint news conference with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, drawing outrage from Palestinians and vehement rejection across the Arab world.

    The U.S. president pressed his case for Palestinians to be moved out of Gaza, devastated by the Israel-Hamas war, and for Egypt and Jordan to take them.

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    Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty flew to Washington in the wake of Trump’s remarks. He met at the State Department yesterday with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with neither speaking to the media.

    Jordan’s King Abdullah II was set to hold talks with Trump today.

    In the Fox interview – which will be broadcast yesterday after the first half was screened a day earlier – Trump said he would build “beautiful communities” for the more than two million Palestinians who live in Gaza.

    “Could be five, six, could be two. But we’ll build safe communities, a little bit away from where they are, where all of this danger is,” added Trump.

    “In the meantime, I would own this. Think of it as a real estate development for the future. It would be a beautiful piece of land. No big money spent.”

    Trump stunned the world when he announced out of the blue last week that the United States would “take over the Gaza Strip,” remove rubble and unexploded bombs and turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”

    But while he initially said that Palestinians could be among the “world people” allowed to live there, he has since appeared to harden his position to suggest that they could not.

  • Trump plans 25% tariffs on steel, aluminum imports

    Trump plans 25% tariffs on steel, aluminum imports

    U.S. President Donald Trump plans to impose tariffs of 25 per cent on steel and aluminum imports into the United States, he said on Sunday.

    “Any steel coming to the United States is going to have them, 25 per cent tariff,” Trump said, according to journalists travelling with the president. When questioned about tariffs on aluminum imports, Trump replied, “25 Per cent for both.”

    Trump also confirmed his plan to announce further reciprocal tariffs in the coming week.

    He spoke of an announcement on Tuesday or Wednesday.

    “Very simply, if they charge us, we charge them, Trump told reporters, adding that the tariffs would go into effect almost immediately.”

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    U.S. tariffs of 10 per cent on Chinese goods took effect from Feb. 4.

    The planned tariffs of 25 per cent on Mexico and Canada were suspended for an initial period of 30 days following promises from the two countries to increase border security measures.

    Trump won November’s presidential election promising to slap high tariffs on foreign goods to reduce U.S. trade deficits.

    He implemented a number of duties during his first term from 2017 to 2021.

    (dpa/NAN)

  • Between Trump and Nigeria

    Between Trump and Nigeria

    In less than three weeks, United States President Donald Trump has shown the world how not to take leadership for granted. Often the easier part is electing a new president, especially in the wake of difficult and sometimes convoluted social, political and economic challenges. Ensuring that a country does not shoot itself in the foot or cut its nose to spite its face is most times the harder part. In last year’s November elections, the US managed to both shoot itself in the foot and cut its nose to spite its face. If it were possible to sever any other part of the body, they would have done it to achieve their electoral goals.

    Nigerians used to think they were more adept than most other countries at destroying their metaphorical anatomy to ventilate their political anger. Now, with wry wit, they must begin to appreciate that that folly is fairly universal, and that in fact, Nigeria’s case may not be as bad or hopeless as they had imagined. Yes, in 1966, they broke out in a paroxysm of excitement when they welcomed the military into government in the expectation that order would be restored and peace imposed after the convulsive elections of 1964/1965. There was no way they would know that they were setting themselves up for a civil war barely a year after the coup or for decades of debilitating military dictatorships.

    Most countries seldom learn from history. After the disputed elections of 1983 in the Second Republic, Nigerians widely advocated for a coup d’etat. They got their wish, their noses and feet severed by their foolishness and amnesia. If anyone had told them the coup would produce a succession of devious and incompetent military dictators, culminating in the blood-soaked and extremely larcenous administration of General Sani Abacha, they would have condemned the fantasy as surreal literature. And when they gleefully aborted the electoral victory of Moshood Kashimawo Abiola in 1993, and as some alleged, murdered him, there was certainly no way they would know that the manipulation would engineer the return of the excitable Olusegun Obasanjo, the lethargic Umaru Yar’Adua, the overwhelmed Goodluck Jonathan, and the dour and sulking Muhammadu Buhari who thrice sought electoral absolution for his tragic military administration.

    To reiterate their ownership of the US, white America reelected President Trump, this time with a dominant and unassailable Electoral College and popular vote margins catalysed by dazed Hispanics, myopic Muslims angry over Gaza, impressionable Blacks, evangelicals, countryside yokels, and all manner of voting groups yearning for political and economic anachronisms. But weeks into his presidency, he has all but wiped the grin off the faces of his supporters. They adored his tough rhetoric on tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China, but he has disgracefully walked the policy back, leaving only China. They do not seem to mind his gung-ho determination to take Greenland by force, but they must now contend with the unprecedented opposition of Denmark and France. His hysteria over Panama Canal gratified their prejudices, but he has declared under his breath that he would settle for Panama merely reducing the influence of China in the running of the canal. Much of the Muslim world which privately wondered whether his presidency would not in fact be more tolerable than that of his predecessor, Joe Biden, are now disillusioned hearing his heresy on depopulating and rebuilding Gaza under US control.

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    In three crazy weeks, Mr Trump has shown that other than technological and military supremacy, the US and indeed nearly all developed countries are as ordinary as they can get. Germany, after all, produced the sociopathic Adolf Hitler in the last century, far more bloodthirsty than Uganda’s Idi Amin. And beside Mr Trump, some of the most vilified African leaders such as Muammer Ghaddafi, Mengistu Haile Mariam, Robert Mugabe, Sani Abacha, Mobutu Sese Seko, Jean Bedel Bokassa are far more predictable, and far less vain and inconsiderate. It must horrify many Americans that their president now suffers the indignity of being compared to Africa’s and Asia’s badly vilified leaders. China’s Mao Zedong and Soviet Union’s Josef Stalin might be sociopathic, but compared with the increasingly fatalistic and unremittingly inconsiderate Mr Trump, they seem blasé, predictable, even intelligent and visionary.

    Before he clocks two or three months in office, Mr Trump will have alienated most of his friends and allies, made a fool of himself, demystified the US, and if left unchecked, plunged the world economy into a crisis, if not another depression. There is simply no sense in him at all, and no method even to his madness. Nigeria’s Gen Abacha might be a thoroughbred thief and a callous leader, but he was sensible enough to let the economy be handled by experts. President Buhari might be insensitive and a closet Fulani irredentist, but he was smart enough to often keep his mouth shut to the point of being reclusive. Gen Badamasi Babangida might be devious and greedy, but he genuinely, if mistakenly, believed his experimentations would birth Utopia under his administration.

    It is a modern tragedy that in the 21st Century, and after more than 250 years of running a democracy anchored on one of the world’s most profound constitutions, the US has produced the mesmerisingly ungifted Mr Trump, a man so destitute of leadership ability that it is baffling a great political party like the Republican Party nominated him, and an even greater country saddled him with the onerous task of ‘leading’ the world. Nigerians, nay Africans, should take consolation in the fact that in no part of their chequered history had they managed to produce a leader so unworthy of the throne, so incapable of elementary reasoning, and so overwrought by emotions.

  • Trump’s threats: Nigerians’ rush for American visa persists

    Trump’s threats: Nigerians’ rush for American visa persists

    • Applicants express concern over inability to access visa drop box
    • Pressure mounts on customs, immigration agents to make 1,800 arrests daily

    The ongoing clampdown by President Donald Trump’s administration in USA on undocumented immigrants does not seem to have whittled the resolve of many Nigerians desirous of a stay in the country, investigation has revealed.

    Thousands of undocumented people have already been deported to their countries of origin as raids on illegal immigrants across the length and breadth of America continue.

    The American television network, National Broadcasting Company (NBC), reported on Friday that Immigration and Customs agents are under increasing pressure to boost the number of arrests and deportations in respect of undocumented immigrants.

    Quoting sources, it said President Donald Trump has expressed anger that the amount of people deported in the first weeks of his administration is not higher.

    The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has listed 3,690 Nigerians said to be residing in the country for deportation.

    Somalia with 4,090 illegal immigrants has the highest number among African countries.

    The Nation investigation at the US Embassy, Abuja and the Consulate in Lagos over the last one week showed that not much has changed in the rush for American visa by some Nigerians.

    It is almost business as usual as applicants invited for visa interview stream in for their appointments, although most of them said they had been booked for interview before Trump was sworn in for his second coming on January 20.

    Some of them said they did not expect Trump to go this far with his threat to send undocumented immigrants away.

    One of the respondents, who claimed to be successful in the visa interview in Lagos, said: “Oga, leave Trump alone with the deportation order.

    “If America likes, they can send all immigrants packing.

    “I am travelling soon.

    “I have genuine documents and money to stay in the U.S.

    “If they send me back, I still have my job to go back to.

    “I am a certified professional engineer.”

    A student, Adeola, who claimed to be travelling for a post-graduate programme, said he had paid a substantial part of his tuition and had nothing to fear.

    Asked why he did not apply for the programme in a Nigerian university, he said: “One must think about the international visibility and opportunities one can benefit from an American university.

    Read Also: Trump signs order barring trans athletes from women’s sports

    “Master and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes in Nigerian university may take a student seven years to complete, if not more, depending on university unions’ strikes and others.

    “If one is serious, one can complete such programmes in four to five years maximum in the American university I’m going to attend.”

    A couple, who spoke with The Nation at the visitors’ car park seeing photocopying some documents, said they were going to visit their children in the U.S.

    They said there was no cause for them to entertain any fear if their applications were granted despite the news of deportation emanating from the U.S. 

    The situation is slightly different at the embassy in Abuja.

    Business operators around the area said that traffic by visa applicants appeared to have reduced lately.

    It was gathered that the interview dates of some applicants were recently rescheduled.

    Some applicants also complained about their inability to access the visa drop box which was introduced in 2020 to allow eligible applicants renew their visas without an in-person interview.

    There are fears that the provision may have been discarded.

    The effect of the reversal is that all applicants will have to go through in-person interviews.

    Officials at the Abuja Embassy and Lagos consulate did not respond to our reporters’ questions on the flow of visa applications since the return of Trump to the White House.

    Apart from the NBC, the Washington Post reported that Trump is disappointed with the results of his mass deportation campaign.

    “The Trump administration is now requiring ICE to make at least 1,800 arrests a day, setting a target of at least 75 arrests for each of the agency’s 25 offices,” the report said.

    Since taking office, ICE has made thousands of arrests and conducted raids in several major U.S. cities, including New York, Denver, Chicago, Los Angeles and Boston.

    The White House has reportedly called for even higher enforcement rates.

    Trump said after his January 20 inauguration that he would make efforts to immediately stop irregular migrants from crossing the U.S. border and begin the process of extraditing millions.

    He also stopped child birthright.

    Trump also declared a nationwide state of emergency over the situation at the southern U.S. border.

    He directed statutory law enforcement authority to identify and arrest aliens who may present threats to national security or public safety, or who otherwise undermine the integrity of U.S. immigration laws.

    Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers enforce immigration laws within the U.S. interior to preserve national security and public safety.

    The figure of the Nigerians facing deportation is included in the “Noncitizens on the ICE Non-Detained Docket with Final Orders of Removal by Country of Citizenship”.

    Many undocumented immigrants, including Nigerians, now live in fear of being picked up and deported. Some have gone into hiding while others are no longer going to work.

    The situation is said to have sparked a sharp increase in the prices of groceries caused by a rise in the cost of production.

    According to reports, as at November 24, 2024, there were 1,445,549 non-citizens on ICE’s non-detained docket with final removal orders. The data is broken down by nationality and number of people faced with deportation

    According to a 2024 Migration Policy Institute (MPI) report, nearly 46.2 million immigrants live in the U.S.

    The report’s statistics came from the U.S. Census Bureau (using its 2022 American Community Survey (ACS), 2023 Current Population Survey (CPS) and 2000 decennial census) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

    The latest data from the DHS showed that Mexicans account for 4.81 million in 2022, representing the largest unauthorised immigrant group.

    After Mexico, the next largest illegal immigrant populations are from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.

    Other countries on the top 10 list included the Philippines, Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, India and China.

    As of 2023, data from the United States Census Bureau showed that the population of Nigerians in the country was 604,077.

    As part of deportation process, a foreign national may be held in a detention centre by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) before trial or deportation.

    After a non-citizen is detained, they may appear before a judge in immigration court during the deportation process.

  • China to Trump: Gaza not bargaining chip for political games

    China to Trump: Gaza not bargaining chip for political games

    The Chinese government has warned that Gaza remains an inalienable part of the territory of Palestine and should not be used as a bargaining chip for political games.

    Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun was quoted to have made the statement in apparent reaction to Donald Trump’s proposal for the US to take over Gaza and resettle the 2.1 million Palestinians living there.

    The Chinese foreign Ministry Spokesperson also called on the international community to join hands in rebuilding Gaza.

    He said China firmly supports the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people.

    Jiakun, in an interview granted in China, said: “Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people.

    “It is an inalienable part of the territory of Palestine, not a bargaining chip for political games, still less a prey of the strong.

    “The war has already left Gaza in devastation and suffering.

    “The international community, major countries in particular, should join hands to make Gaza better, rather than worse, by providing humanitarian assistance and helping with its reconstruction.

    “China firmly supports the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people, believes that ‘the Palestinians governing Palestine’ is an important principle that must be upheld in the post-conflict governance of Gaza, and opposes the forced displacement of the people of Gaza.

    Read Also: Netanyahu praises Trump plan to move Palestinians out of Gaza

    “China stands ready to work with the rest of the world for the realization of the two-state solution as the fundamental way forward, and for an early, just political settlement of the Palestinian question, namely, the establishment of an independent State of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty based on the 1967 border and with east Jerusalem as its capital.”

    He also added: “China, as always, develops its relations with other countries in accordance with the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter.

    “We also stand ready to contribute to world peace and development.”