●Says embargo on countries portrays US as global bully, not police
As President Donald J. Trump prepares to begin his second term in office, PeacePro, a peacebuilding think tank officially known as the Foundation for Peace Professionals, has called for a bold shift in the US foreign policy by urging the administration to lift all unilateral sanctions and embargoes on countries including Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Russia.
PeacePro noted that US sanctions and embargo to sovereign nations contribute to global instability and human suffering, adding that such unilateral conduct by the United States portrayed the US as a global bully rather than a global police.
In a statement by PeacePro’s Executive Director, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, the group denounced the use of sanctions as a form of collective punishment that disproportionately affected innocent civilians without delivering meaningful diplomatic outcomes.
“Sanctions are not instruments of peace. They violate international norms and impose devastating hardships on ordinary people, depriving them of food, medicine, and other essentials,” Hamzat said.
Hamzat cited Cuba’s decades-long economic embargo, which had stifled growth and restricted access to medical technologies as a clear example of the humanitarian cost of US sanctions.
Similarly, he pointed to Iran, where sanctions had deepened public health crises and hindered life-saving medical supplies.
According to PeacePro, such policies did not only exacerbate human suffering but they also destabilised global markets and fuelled geopolitical tensions.
“These sanctions do more harm than good,” Hamzat said.
He continued: “They isolate entire populations and entrench authoritarian regimes rather than promoting democratic reforms.”
PeacePro outlined an alternative foreign policy framework emphasizing dialogue, multilateral diplomacy, and respect for national sovereignty.
Hamzat urged the Trump administration to lift all unilateral sanctions and work through international institutions such as the United Nations to resolve global disputes.
“Ending unilateral sanctions would restore U.S. credibility, align its actions with democratic values, and set a precedent for a more just and peaceful international order.
“Sanctions should never be used as weapons of mass deprivation. They contradict the principles of proportionality and morality enshrined in international law,” Hamzat declared.
He said: “The Trump administration must seize this moment to lead with integrity, respect, and a renewed commitment to peace through justice.”
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