WHILE confronting the worst crisis in our modern existence, optimism is a crucial survival mechanism. We are comforted with phrases such as ‘this too shall pass’, ‘we will get through this’, ‘be patient’ and ‘we shall overcome’. These cuddly words are important and they invoke much-needed hope but when it comes to the global good and equal protection of all states, these reassuring references are not apt.

Despite these feel-good slogans, the dogged protection of the interests of states has been ever-present during this pandemic, and it has reinforced, nay crystalised the truism in the sentiments of the British Statesman, Prime Minister, Lord Palmerston (1784-1865). Expressed in the House of Commons on March 1, 1848, he stated: ‘We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow.’

COVID-19 AND THE INTERESTS OF STATES
On March 11, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a deadly pandemic. As it began to take its toll, nations immediately kowtowed to their survival and eschewed goodwill to all humans. African nations sought $US 44B debt relief to fight the virus with little success. Small island developing nations with small populations that can be wiped out by this disease have not received any significant ease of debt from big nations and multilateral institutions. Also, 203 countries began to wrestle with each other in a grand scramble for medical supplies and an ugly and naked display of self-regard unfolded.

The big nations began to flex their financial muscles. The United States snatched medical supplies intended for Germany and France by outbidding those countries. One German official called it an act of ‘modern piracy’. It might have been, but it was just the plain old eternal pursuit of governmental stinginess, at the fatal expense of other humans. So what was new? Nothing. Unconscionable trade restrictions prevented 3 million masks from being delivered to Canada. The export of 20 ventilators were blocked from being shipped to little Barbados with a population of 286, 641. The interests of states are never jettisoned, even in a time of extreme suffering.

GUYANA 2020 ELECTIONS AND FOREIGN INTERESTS
With the above in mind, a cursory glance at the developments throughout our ongoing regional and national elections, would reveal that foreign attentiveness has been unprecedented. Besides the fact that we are a nascent oil producing nation, there are other numerous factors driving this passion. There are numerous threads in this diplomatic tapestry. This column is not afforded the space to treat with all the complexities but suffice it to dabble in a few questions: what are the key factors fueling this attention?

Is it some semblance of regime change or the genuine advocacy of objectives tied to the promotion of democracy? Guided by the above, skepticism or trust issues over the latter are well placed, especially in light of the fact that the advancement of principles and high ideals is always dwarfed by the interests of states. By any historical measurement, this can be substantiated.

As such, viewing these developments with a critical eye is not only prudent, it is being realistic. In doing so, this inevitably leads to the consideration; if there is a need for regime change, how is this even possible? Why would nations that embrace democracy and human rights end up at the opposite end of this government? Often, such is the world, the sage words of Lord Palmerston are timeless.

NO APOLOGIES 
With the signing of the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648, there was the formation of nation-states. Since that development, by any historical metric, there is an abundance of evidence that indicates pure selfishness. As a consequence, in the grand scheme of unapologetic national self-interest, powerless people and powerless nations are specks. We did not need COVID-19 to confirm this; it was abundantly clear pre-pandemic.

The impotence of some multilateral institutions is a constant reminder of this sad state of affairs. Guided by parochial foreign policy cloaked in fine language such as ‘Principled realism’ and ‘Putting America first’, the foundation of international camaraderie was rocked when the President of the United States, with no apologies, announced the suspension of funding for the World Health Organization (WTO) in the headwind of the worst modern public health crisis. Why was everyone transfixed by this action? Nations don’t have friends, they have interests and those interests are not suspended during a pandemic.