In these politically and culturally difficult times, it may be the ultimate geopolitical conversation: does Donald Trump deserve a Nobel Peace Prize?

Trump's critics vehemently assert that the question does not even deserve to be asked. Just look at his adventures in foreign policy (they say): Trump deepened the trade wars; left the Iranian nuclear pact; removed from the Paris Agreement on Climate Change; exacerbated tensions with NATO allies; reversed the improvement of ties with Cuba; immigrant children separated from their parents at the border; and poured salt on Palestinian wounds recognizing that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. More generally, he played with many fundamental assumptions about diplomacy, society and, of course, civility.

Why on Earth, should such an activity be rewarded with the most prestigious distinction in the world? Alfred Nobel, his instigator, wanted the prize to be awarded to "those who, in the previous year, will have conferred the greatest benefit to humanity." Is Trump?

The short answer (for Trump supporters and enthusiasts), including the Republican lawmakers who named it, is that it can not be ruled out.

Exhibit A: During his 20-month tenure, Trump has already achieved something that has eluded all senior US officials for a quarter of a century: he convinced North Korea reclusive and recalcitrant to accept – well only on vague terms – to talk stop its nuclear weapons program. While he was about to step down in 2017, former President Barack Obama, who was pursuing a policy of "strategic patience" with Kim Jong Un about his nuclear arsenal, was considering Korea of the North as the top priority of US national security. Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize after just eight and a half months at the White House. It has come to nothing with North Korea. Last week, Trump said he and Kim "fell in love" after exchanging "beautiful letters". It looks like progress.

In the United States, TODAY asked foreign policy and international relations experts to answer the following question: "Does Donald Trump deserve a Nobel Peace Prize for his denuclearization efforts on the Korean Peninsula?" I said.

Toby Dalton, co-director of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Nuclear Policy Program

"The short answer for me is a qualified" no "… Obama won the Nobel Prize for words (which have not been adequately followed) about the vision of a world Trump is part of the process North Korea has yet to see any definitive results: there is enough to be optimistic, but there is a good chance that denuclearization efforts will not be successful. do not succeed … Now, if there is a denuclearization agreement and North Korea is actually starting to apply it in a verifiable way, then Trump has helped to make that possible. it is really President Moon (Jae-in) of South Korea who has kept all the ideas in the air to advance this peace process. "

James S. Robbins, USA Today columnist and Senior Researcher on National Security Affairs at the American Foreign Policy Council

"The breakthrough in relations has been crucial in advancing the ground for peace, which was unprecedented in US-North Korea relations, even though a final agreement on denuclearization "It has not yet been signed, it's the breakthrough itself that has …" Trump achieved this unprecedented diplomatic breakthrough, largely because he was willing to demonstrate force, then to express his conciliation, which impressed Kim, who has since shown great respect for his North Korean counterpart … The intensity of the conflict (since 1950), as well as the A closer crisis atmosphere that has been defused, which President Trump realized – and which few people thought possible, deserved more than the Nobel Peace Prize – was a masterful example of the art of the world. ;agreement.

Beatrice Fihn, Executive Director of the International Campaign for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). ICAN wins 2017 Nobel Peace Prize

"Trump is not expected to win the Nobel Peace Prize, especially a year ago, he announced a massive upgrade of the US nuclear arsenal." He wanted to win, sign the treaty on the subject. Prohibition of nuclear weapons would be a good start Instead, the United States has sought to sabotage the Treaty at every stage.As long as Trump bases its security policy on the constant threat of massacres of civilians, we are never really in peace and Trump is not really a peacemaker. "Note: The Trump administration announced in February its intention to pursue the Obama-led nuclear modernization plan, which plans to develop new capabilities in nuclear weapons. The treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons was signed by 69 countries in 2017. The United States does not belong to it.)

Richard Goldberg, senior advisor at the Democracy Foundation of the Research Institute and architect of the sanctions imposed by the Congress against Iran

"For me, it's a silly conversation that may be suitable for a European audience.It would be too much Obama to adopt a Nobel Prize prematurely.The goal of a US president should be to protect Americans, not to win Nobel Prizes, and I think the Trump administration is rightly focusing on the old.

Richard Caplan, Professor of International Relations at the University of Oxford

"Trump deserves credit for helping to reduce tensions on the Korean peninsula, which is very important, but North Korea is notorious for coming back on its nuclear weapons commitments." is simply that it is too early to say that denuclearization has been achieved.

Robert Manning, Scowcroft Center of the Atlantic Council for Strategy and Security

"Donald Trump certainly does not deserve to win an award for his efforts on North Korea – maybe an Emmy for the big reality show … That said, I think Trump deserves to have the merit of Trump's threats and bragging were essential in strengthening the support of China and Russia for unprecedented sanctions by the United Nations Security Council applying a "maximum pressure" on the North Korean economy, which allowed Kim to attend the negotiating table.Trump's unconventional diplomacy also played a determining role.Rulings, Trump is the first American leader to decide that it's better to meet this man, Kim. "

Denny Roy, Senior Research Fellow on Security Issues for Asia-Pacific, East West Center

Trump does not deserve the Nobel Prize for his North Korean politics for several reasons.
First, just before Kim Jong Un began his diplomatic offensive, Trump threatened a military attack on North Korea if she acquired nuclear weapons, and with nuclear annihilation, if North Korea tried to neutralize the United States. It may have worked well, but the Nobel Prize is not meant to honor a successful belligerence … Trump's policy since Kim Jong Un's outreach has simply been to reaffirm an American offer long-standing, prior to Trump, that the United States would compensate North Korea with improved economic and political relations if North Korea abandoned its nuclear weapons. Trump did not innovate, although he added his oddly stylistic stylistic flourishes, such as publicly fearing the despicable Kim Jong Un. "

Henrik Urdal, Research Director, Peace Research Institute Oslo

"I do not think any of the actors involved in the denuclearization work on the Korean Peninsula deserve this award this year, including Trump, we have seen promising signs that real negotiations could take place, but we are very far from any tangible and irreversible results in the field of nuclear disarmament.I think such a price could be awarded in the future, but only after we have seen major progress. "

Bonus: Asset on Trump

"Everyone thinks so, but I will never say it," the 45th US President said in May during his speech on recent diplomatic progress with North Korea. He asked himself if he deserved to receive the prize of one million dollars. Trump's remark came as a result of remarks by South Korean President Moon. "President Trump should win the Nobel Peace Prize, the only thing we need is peace," said Mood.

More: Nobel Peace Prize: Who will win in 2018?

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What do you think? Should Trump win the Nobel Peace Prize, if not this year? You can write to USA TODAY reporters Kim Hjelmgaard ([email protected]) and Deirdre Shesgreen ([email protected]) with your point of view.

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