Self-Sufficiency Guarantees Complete Sovereignty

The Chinese leader Mao Zedong considered self-sufficiency to be the foundation of nation’s independence. He contended that a nation dependent on external sources for its food, medicine, and arms is vulnerable to domination, no matter how strongly it asserts its sovereignty. In his view, self-sufficiency was not merely an economic decision, but rather an essential aspect of full sovereignty.

With Donald Trump's return to the White House, the language of sanctions and economic boycotts has resurfaced as tools he has consistently employed as instruments of pressure. However, what some perceive as a challenge or a threat, I regard as a valuable opportunity and a precious gift for nations that have long relied on imports and external dependencies.
In a world beset by the turbulence of constant upheaval, economic sovereignty has ceased to be a mere luxury and has become an essential requirement. Boycotts reveal flaws and vulnerabilities, prompting a recurring question that arises with every crisis: Why do we depend on others for our food, medicine, and the education of our children?

It is true that boycott may initially be painful, it serves as a wake-up call to the complacent and negligent, motivating nations to cultivate what they consume and produce what they require. Food and medicine security are not merely items to be filed away; they represent the principal of defense against any external threat. In the example set by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), we find a noble model, as he stated: 'It is better for one of you to take his rope, go to the mountain, gather firewood, sell it, eat from it, and give charity, than to ask others, whether they give or withhold.' This is a profound prophetic invitation to labor and self-reliance, even in its simplest form, for it carries a dignity far greater than that derived from seeking handouts.

Self-reliance is not an unattainable aspiration. We possess the land, the water, the intellect, and the willpower. What is required is a decision and determination. We must firmly believe that what we cultivate and produce, even if it comes at a higher cost, is ultimately more valuable because it upholds our dignity.

In the era of a returning Trump, where politics is driven by power and self-interest, we must take action. We must not passively await what is dictated to us; instead, we should take control of our own destiny with our own hands. A boycott is not a conclusion, but rather a new beginning for nations that have chosen to embrace freedom, no longer held hostage by the agendas of others.

Talal Abu-Ghazaleh