Though it is too early to say much about the 21st century, the late 20th century saw countries gobble up foreign territory. Indeed, even the more modest claim that such territorial conquest is unknown in Europe is not true. Sometimes these actions met determined international opposition, but just as often they did not. ... Indeed, a comprehensive study of post-WWII conquest finds that United Nations condemnation happens in well under half the cases. Russian President Vladimir Putin needed to look no further than his Black Sea neighbor Turkey for inspiration. In 1974, Turkey invaded northern Cyprus, and continues to occupy the northern third of the island under an unrecognized puppet regime. Cyprus is a member of NATO and the European Union. This has not prevented the development of close relations, and even solicitude, from the EU toward its own occupier. As Turkey was grabbing Cyprus, Morocco snatched the massive and resource-rich Western Sahara -- like Russias Crimea move, in a swift action that did not result in the firing of a shot. ... Although no nation has recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the occupied area, Morocco remains a close ally of the United States and the EU. Indeed, U.S. policy now supports Moroccan proposals to retain the occupied territory under Moroccan sovereignty with local autonomy. Moreover, European companies happily help Morocco exploit Western Saharas resources, and recent treaties with Europe even acknowledge and engage with Moroccan control. ... All nations now recognize Hanois sovereignty over all Vietnam. And despite a hostile Security Council resolution, the West quietly supported Indonesias Timor position for decades, before Jakartas brutality made the issue difficult to ignore.
Posted on: Mon, 07 Apr 2014 21:43:50 +0000
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