All nations have symbiotic relationships but self interests override all other considerations.
Few countries in the world are perfect because all have their share of problems whether social, economic, political, racial or tribal.
In their interactions with each other, countries exercise mutual and cordial relations diplomatically. Given a chance, countries would wish to influence situations in friendly or unfriendly nations.
Djibouti, a country situated at the Horn of African is a good example of foreign nations dominance.
Due to its geopolitical importance, almost all countries with imperialistic interests have established military bases in Djibouti.
The US, Japan, China, France, European Union, Spain, India, Russia and Germany have big interests in Djibouti such that the country literary looks like one big multinational conglomerate.
All countries of the world have their own share of internal housekeeping issues that they would better stay unknown to the outside world.
For instance, in order to appear as a strong economic powerhouse, a promoter and protector of human rights and democracy, the US projects an image of a perfect country in all its interactions with other nations.
Kenyans will be shocked by the amount of poverty, unemployment, crime, theft, rape and molestations, including racism that exist in the United State of America.
This is why such realities are best left to conjecture.
Kenyans will recall that former US President, Donald Trump almost faced impeachment over Ukraine debacle, while Russia was rumoured to have had a hand in him winning the election.
Trump tried hard to reject Joe Biden’s win citing rigging via Post Office ballot papers.
Countries such as Germany, Italy, China and Russia spare no resources to ensure that poor countries perceive them as the preferred ‘Canaans’ of the world.
These deceptive outlooks are created and maintained by a country’s ability to sell her best image to the outside world.
That as it may, African countries such as Kenya cannot be expected to play and act differently on the international scene.
For these reasons and taking into consideration all nations understand one another, national interests are the driving factors that defines nations’ relations.
Frankly speaking, when a foreign dignitary travels to another nation, officials and citizens are not interested with housekeeping issues but strategic matters that can benefit visited country.
Americans, Germans, Britons are less interested on who mugged who, who insulted who, who is planning to rig who, which political party is playing dirty, who is influencing who because those are normal in their own countries.
Instead their interests is how foreign investments could be encouraged and protected, about the foreign policy, international engagements and participation, financial and fiscal policy, relations with visited country among other assurances.
In a nutshell what foreign nations and their citizens would be looking for is Statesmanship in such visiting dignitaries, especially if they are seeking to lead their countries.
Short of this, any country that entertains a charlatan, unpatriotic and proscranating dignitary would only do so if it serves their foreign interests.
This is why despite the circumstances, all nations expect their officials to conduct themselves with self respect, portray a good image of their nations, promote the interests of their motherland and above all appear and behave patriotically.
Doing opposite of this, a dignitary will be viewed purely as a disgruntled tourist with a grudge against his or her country.
Kaunda wa Muchunku
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