Why the U.S. Acts the Way It Does and Why We Must Act Within the Law

People often misunderstand American foreign policy because they interpret it emotionally. But once you understand the logic behind how major powers operate, the U.S. becomes predictable. And once you understand that logic, you also see exactly how Southern Cameroonians must conduct themselves if we want the world to take our case seriously.

Roland Fru

11/24/20253 min read

Let’s begin with a simple truth: the United States’ number one priority overseas is peace, stability, and low cost. Not because they hate anyone. Not because they are blind to injustice. But because this is exactly how every major power behaves.

1. Why the U.S. Prefers Stability

There is a consistent pattern in American foreign policy. If a crisis can be contained without war, Washington will choose containment. If a problem can be managed without spending billions, they will avoid spending billions.

Their strategic questions are always the same.

Will this crisis spill into neighboring countries
Will American companies in the region be affected
Will a refugee wave strain the U.S. border system
Will extremist groups take advantage of instability
Will China or Russia gain influence while the region is in chaos

So even when the U.S. sympathizes with a people, their actions follow cost, stability, and global balance. This is why their public comments often sound warm, but their decisions follow strategy.

This is normal. This is predictable. This is how every powerful state behaves.

2. What This Means for Southern Cameroons

If we expect the world to take our case seriously, we cannot behave like we are operating in a vacuum. Every foreign government evaluates conflicts based on one question: who is acting responsibly and legally.

If we remain disciplined and grounded in law, we become the stabilizing side.
If LRC continues illegal occupation and violence, it becomes the destabilizing side.

The world always leans toward the party that demonstrates lawful, predictable behavior. Never the one that shouts the loudest.

3. The Two Legal Gatekeepers: The UK and the UN

Our people must understand this point with absolute clarity. Under international law, there are only two entities with authority over the unfinished decolonization of Southern Cameroons.

The United Kingdom, which served as the Administering Authority
The United Nations, which served as the Supervising Authority

No one else has legal standing. Not LRC. Not the African Union. Not Nigeria. Not ECOWAS. Not France. Not any other state or organization.

Why
Because Southern Cameroons was a UN trust territory. Trust territories operate under strict rules. Only the Administering Authority and the UN Trusteeship Council or General Assembly can finalize the status of the territory.

La République du Cameroun was never part of that structure and has zero legal standing in the process.

4. Why Negotiating With LRC Is Illegal

This is where many people unknowingly undermine the entire struggle. When you negotiate with LRC on the status of the territory, you are treating them as if they have jurisdiction. The moment you treat them that way, you confer authority upon them. And the moment you confer authority, you weaken your own legal claim.

Negotiation becomes recognition.
Recognition becomes acceptance.
Acceptance destroys the foundation of the case.

LRC is not the Administering Authority.
LRC is not the Supervising Authority.
LRC never lawfully acquired power over Southern Cameroons.

That is why any negotiation with LRC about the political status of the territory is void and legally meaningless. Even honest international lawyers will tell you this quietly. The law is very clear.

5. The Only Two Lawful Paths Forward

There are only two legitimate ways for this process to be completed in international law.

Path One: The United Nations completes the decolonization process

because the trusteeship was never completed
because no union treaty was signed
because Resolution 1608 was never implemented

Path Two: The United Kingdom fulfills its remaining legal obligation

because it ended administration without completing the required tripartite conference
because it never deposited a union treaty at the UN
because the status of the territory was left incomplete

Anything outside these two paths is illegitimate under international law.

6. What Our People Must Do Now

If we want to be taken seriously by global powers, we must behave like a lawful people who understand the system.

We must show that we understand the legal framework
We understand how major powers interpret stability
We understand the cost driven logic of U.S. foreign policy
We understand why responsible movements get international traction
We understand the root cause, which is incomplete decolonization

When a people act with discipline and clarity, the world sees them as predictable and responsible partners. This is how nations gain support. Not through emotional activism. Not through disorder. But through law, structure, and responsible conduct.

This is how successful nations are born.