中新網北京4月2日電 (蔣鯉) 《紐約時報》近日發表評論文章，稱美國為全球唯一的“制裁超級大國”，并指出美國應該明智地使用這種權力。事實上，動輒發起單邊制裁，不僅無法解決問題，緩解地緣沖突，反而會有損美國的全球信任度，最終使美國走向孤立。

　　據美國財政部發布的報告，截至2021財年，美國已生效的制裁措施累計達到9400多項，比20年前增長了近10倍，數量之多令人咋舌。難道美國的“超級大國”地位是制裁出來的嗎？

　　伊朗、敘利亞、古巴、委內瑞拉等國都因為制裁阻礙了正常的對外經貿活動，導致本國經濟發展受限，民眾生活水平持續低迷。

　　而另一方面，美國雖然打著“支持烏克蘭”的旗號發起對俄羅斯的嚴厲制裁，卻導致油價高企，令不少歐洲國家苦不堪言。

　　正如美國塔夫茨大學學者丹尼爾•德雷茲納撰文指出，過去10年間，經濟制裁已成為美國幾乎所有外交問題的首選解決方案。但事實上，美國這種單邊制裁正逐漸失去威懾力，俄羅斯和伊朗等國對美國的強硬態度就是美國制裁失敗的最好證明。

　　不僅如此，美國頻頻揮舞“制裁大棒”，盟友也深受其害。在美國的“長臂管轄”下，法國“工業明珠”阿爾斯通就曾慘遭美國“肢解”；為保護本國天然氣行業和維護自己在歐亞地區的地緣政治利益，美國對連接德國和俄羅斯的“北溪-2”項目實施多輪制裁，最終導致該項目至今未能完工；上個世紀，日本也在著名的“東芝事件”中受到美國打壓。

　　從本質上講，這種不分敵友的制裁行為是對他國主權的侵犯，不僅損害了他國經濟利益，這種“美國優先”的心態也會使美國在全球合作中逐漸被孤立。

　　肆意對主權國家和他國合法經營企業實行單邊制裁，企圖用政治霸權影響商業秩序，阻礙全球正常經貿合作，就是從側面反映出，美國外交影響力逐漸衰弱，在面對經濟全球化和世界多極化的歷史潮流時，維護霸權地位能用的武器越來越少。

　　當下，全球化進程受阻，各國加強合作、共同維護正常的貿易規則和秩序才是全球發展之道。美國揮舞“制裁大棒”，逆潮流而行，極不明智，終會引起越來越多的反對和批評，使美國走向孤立。

Sanctions fuel U.S. role as superpower?

By John Lee

(ECNS) -- An opinion work in The New York Times called the U.S. “the only sanctions superpower” and said the country “must use that power wisely.” The U.S. has been keening on using sanction weapons for a long time. Is the "superpower" nurtured by sanctions?

But arbitrary sanctions are by no means a good choice to solve problems or to alleviate geopolitical conflicts. On the contrary, it will gradually damage the world's trust in the country, eventually leading the U.S. to isolation.

According to the 2021 Sanctions Review released by the U.S. Treasury Department, by fiscal year 2021, the U.S. had over 9,400 effective sanction designations, almost 10 times the number 20 years ago.

U.S. sanctions on countries such as Iran, Syria, Cuba and Venezuela have impeded their normal economic and trade activities with the world, resulting in sluggish economic development and low quality of life for people in those countries.

U.S. sanctions on Russia under the pretext of “backing up Ukraine” have raised global oil prices and many European countries are also suffering from Russian counter-measures.

Daniel W. Drezner, a scholar at Tufts University, pointed out in his article The United States of Sanctions that to anyone paying attention to U.S. foreign policy for the past decade, it has become obvious the United States relies on one tool above all: economic sanctions.

However, such sanctions are losing potency, as evidenced by the tough attitude of Russia and Iran towards the country.

What’s more, U.S. sanctions also affect relations with its allies. For example, the world-famous Alstom of France has been split due to the U.S.’ “long-arm jurisdiction." The North Stream 2 connecting Germany and Russia is still uncompleted due to obstruction by the U.S., which tries to protect its liquefied natural gas industry and its geopolitical interests in Eurasia. Even Japan has been suppressed by the U.S. in the Toshiba event last century.

Sanctions without distinction are infringements on the sovereignty of other countries and a blow to their economic interests. The "America first" mentality will gradually exclude the country from global cooperation.

The U.S. wantonly imposes unilateral sanctions on sovereign countries and legally operated enterprises, in an attempt to use political hegemony to influence business order and hinder normal global economic and trade cooperation. This reflects that the diplomatic influence of the U.S. is gradually weakening, and that there are fewer cards it can play to maintain its hegemony in the face of economic globalization.

Globalization requires all countries across the world to cooperate and jointly safeguard normal trade rules to promote global development. U.S. sanctions go against this trend, which will eventually trigger worldwide opposition, criticism and isolation.