The Trump team's
trip to Greenland is unwelcome. The islanders don't want to become an American
colony. This is another example of using bullying instead of statecraft: https://www.reuters.com/world/united-states-is-putting-unacceptable-pressure-greenland-danish-pm-says-2025-03-25/
Donald Trump has now threatened to bomb Iran: “bombing the likes of which they have never seen
before” https://apnews.com/article/iran-rejects-direct-negotiations-trump-letter-us-c414743a567c574b6f48f64a2e889f31 This doesn’t look like a wise form of negotiation.
Trump’s
negotiations with Iran appear to be good news, but his credibility is low –
given that he walked away from the JCPOA, which had been a carefully negotiated
international agreement https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2025/04/08/trump-rebuffs-netanyahu-and-gambles-on-a-deal-with-iran
Trump bullies
other countries because he feels superior to them – but he causes offence: “Polls
show that the vast majority of Greenlanders want to become independent from
Denmark but do not wish to become part of the US” https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly1pjnpyjpo
Mark Carney won
the Canadian election by promising to stand up to Trump. He is also “ready to
take a leadership role” in advocating multilateralism – in direct opposition to
Trump’s isolationism and aggression towards Canada https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/carney-aims-global-leadership-role-against-trump-after-canada-election-win-2025-04-29/
The popular
backlash against Donald Trump has caused the defeat of another right-wing
politician: this time in Australia, following the Canadian pattern of standing
up against American aggression https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/count-under-way-australia-election-with-living-costs-trump-focus-2025-05-03/
Iran’s response to
Witkoff’s red line: “Unrealistic expectations stop
negotiations, enrichment in Iran is not something that can be stopped …I think
he is completely at a distance from the reality of the negotiations” https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/trump-envoy-witkoff-cites-us-red-line-with-iran-against-uranium-enrichment-2025-05-18/
Trump’s foreign
policy is “to spread democracy to everybody around the world at the point of a
gun. The military’s job is to dominate any foe and annihilate any threat to
America, anywhere, anytime and any place” https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5317486-donald-trump-west-point-commencement-speech-golden-age/
Trump is
characteristically talking big on Iran, which rejects his call to surrender. His
confrontational approach is unlikely to work. The previous peace accord was
reached by patient negotiation. He is grossly irresponsible https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-nuclear-us-strike-israel-eeaad923bb2df019b05f31f2e11d486c
Trump and his MAGA base don’t value America’s soft power. Voice of America has been cut, and “Chinese state media is moving aggressively to fill the vacuum”. It is hard to see how Americans benefit https://www.axios.com/2025/07/17/trump-china-retreat-soft-power
The South China
Morning Post reports on India-China relations: “deepening mutually beneficial
cooperation ..and opposing unilateral bullying” after Trump’s latest tariffs https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3322471/china-india-talks-narendra-modi-praises-stable-predictable-constructive-ties
Who are Trump's allies?
His praise for North Korea's leader is weird. Kim Jong Un has continued to
develop nuclear weapons and long range missiles, threatening Japan and South
Korea, and has supported Russia in the Ukraine war https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250825-trump-eyes-n-korea-meet-as-he-ambushes-s-korea-leader
Trump’s tariffs on
India have backfired. India is/was a US ally, but Russia, India and China are
all members of the BRICS and SCO groups
of countries. They reject US hegemony and they support each other https://www.reuters.com/world/china/india-china-are-partners-not-rivals-modi-xi-say-2025-08-31/
Trump should not be surprised that after bullying countries with tariffs, and being so unpredictable, the rest of the world is rushing into the arms of China for strength and stability https://www.axios.com/2025/09/03/xi-parade-china-putin-kim-conspire
Trump's deployment
of warships in the Caribbean is intended to intimidate Venezuela. He claims
that it was to stop drug trafficking but it is an escalation in tactics. Perhaps
it just makes him feel powerful https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c78nl9lz8zeo
Trump is on an ego
trip. He is positioning the US as acting where and whenever it chooses, ignoring
international law. It is what motivates China, India and Russia to work
together to oppose him https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-orders-return-us-war-department-2025-09-05/
Trump has accused
the UN of sabotaging his visit, yet the facts are more nuanced: one of his own
staff might have stopped the escalator and the White House runs the
teleprompter. Trump's stance is undignified https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250924-escalatorgate-trump-demands-probe-into-un-triple-sabotage
China is gaining soft power by supporting a rules-based international
order, acting to reduce carbon emissions, and with stable economic policies.
This is in stark contrast to Trump's American foreign policy https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/26/world/asia/china-un-trump.html
Trump’s agenda
with Venezuela can be seen in several ways: for MAGA he is defending US
borders, saving lives from drug dependency, and demonstrating American military
might; ideologically he sees Maduro as an opponent (and a usurper) https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-military-deploy-aircraft-carrier-south-america-amid-soaring-tensions-with-2025-10-24/
Trump’s huge
military build-up in the Caribbean is unlikely to shift Maduro. Venezuelans are
rallying around their leader against the threat. And an invasion would mobilise
world opinion against America https://theconversation.com/us-squeeze-on-venezuela-wont-bring-about-rapid-collapse-of-maduro-in-fact-it-might-boomerang-on-washington-268693
In
Sudan the UAE has been supporting the RSF, which has been committing atrocities.
The UAE and its allies, including the US, should all press for peace in Sudan –
which would benefit everyone https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/war/71504/the-uk-must-do-more-to-stop-the-violence-in-sudan
Questions are
being raised about Trump's style of diplomacy. A promised Saudi investment of $1trn
in the US is an economic windfall for America, but it will also benefit Trump’s
family – and what is the payoff for the Saudis? https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/world/middleeast/trump-family-business-saudi-arabia.html
The Trump
administration is condoning war crimes near Venezuela. It has also supported
Netanyahu's war crimes. It is making America into a pariah State: the opposite
of making America great again https://www.axios.com/2025/12/01/pete-hegseth-venezuelan-boat-survivors-strike
Trump wanted to
claim a success in his peacekeeping efforts. It would have been more dignified
to wait until there is a ceasefire in place and a plan to make it permanent. His
rush for good headlines shows a lack of confidence https://www.axios.com/2025/12/04/trump-rwanda-drc-peace-deal
Trump wants to improve the US relationship with Russia and doubts the value of
Europe as an ally. This makes him
unsuitable as a peacemaker in Russia’s war with Ukraine and puts the future of
NATO in doubt https://apnews.com/article/trump-security-strategy-europe-russia-america-first-068488ca7e6d1c92ccaddd1649958218
Hegseth endorsed the killing of survivors on a stricken Venezuelan boat, which
contravenes the Defense Department's Law of War Manual
and is a war crime. Suspects
should be arrested, not murdered. He thinks he looks
strong https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/hegseth-says-he-would-have-ordered-second-strike-caribbean-vessel-2025-12-06/
Trump is behaving
as if he were the Earth’s emperor, but it is against US interests to antagonise
the EU – which has been an important security ally until now, as well as being
a customer for American goods and services https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgmd132ge4o
Donald Trump’s
intervention in the Honduras election, which included a threat to withhold aid
unless Nasry Asfura won, is another example of his coercive
tactics –and it delegitimizes the result for the Honduran people https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2025/12/25/au-honduras-nasry-asfura-remporte-l-election-presidentielle-grace-au-soutien-de-donald-trump_6659425_3210.html
Trump's New Year
wish was for “peace on earth”. That looked like a nice headline, but it doesn’t
stand up to inspection as his “Department of War” looks for other headlines
such as the world's biggest aircraft carrier threatening Venezuela and now a
threat to Iran https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/trump-threatens-iran-over-protest-deaths-unrest-flares-2026-01-02/
Most American
attempts at regime change have been disastrous. Trump's invasion of Venezuela
risks regional instability, and he has now threatened other Latin American
countries. Congress needs to stop him https://www.axios.com/2026/01/03/trump-maduro-venezuela-mexico-sheinbaum
Trump is
intoxicated with the power of America's military. His attack on Venezuela,
ignoring international law, has made European leaders nervous. Trump's
requirement for what Greenland can offer should be negotiated, not demanded
with menaces https://sundayguardianlive.com/news/poland-pm-donald-tusk-warns-europes-future-after-trumps-greenland-remarks-one-for-all-or-we-are-finished-163455/
The tanker seized
today was undermining sanctions on Russia, Iran and Venezuela. The seizure was
in international waters and was legal. This should not be compared to the
attack on Venezuela, kidnapping Maduro, which was an illegal act of war https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckglnprzk72o
The US can put as
many troops into Greenland as it wants within NATO. And it can buy the island’s
raw materials. Trump wants to own the island to make himself look big, but he's
weakening NATO with friction among allies https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c78vj5n7jg3o
Trump wants to
help Iranian protestors but an attack would unite the population against him.
Its regime is losing legitimacy by killing protestors so restoring Iran’s
Internet, to publicise the deaths, would be a good move https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/confronting-protests-iran-vows-strike-back-if-us-attacks-2026-01-11/
Russia is
encouraging Trump to take control of Greenland – preferably before the midterm
elections. It can see the clear benefits in Trump destroying NATO and damaging
western economies through sanctions https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c17zpvkddpzo
Financial markets
recovered when Trump reversed his decision to impose tariffs on European
countries and announced a framework deal. This might look like a success for
his negotiating style, but it has left a nasty taste https://www.reuters.com/world/davos-live-trump-make-speech-davos-tensions-with-europe-grow-over-greenland-2026-01-21/
Western leaders
are staying away from Trump's Board of Peace because it appears to be undermining the UN.
Trump has UN backing to manage the Gaza crisis but he hasn’t the authority to
widen his role https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/trump-launch-board-peace-that-some-fear-rivals-un-2026-01-22/
Paul Krugman
referred to Trump as ‘Demented Donald’ when commenting on the President's
speech at Davos. Trump has now also belittled NATO's help to America in
Afghanistan – making the US look like an angry bully https://open.substack.com/pub/paulkrugman/p/courageous-carney-vs-demented-donald
Trump's aggression
against Canada now includes the threat of 100% tariffs, and he referred to Carney
as ‘Governor’ while showing a map with Canada as the 51st State. Carney remains
calmly reasonable however https://apnews.com/article/carney-trump-trade-canada-united-states-china-11175a5c513730d8a894bdabe70b8c01
Trump’s aggression
has become a parody of itself. It is astonishing that the White House thought
that it was appropriate to post this https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/2013592166795260232
Prime Minister
Sanae Takaichi's massive win in Sunday’s election gives her a lot of power.
Trump has praised her – but adopting his confrontational style will alienate
close neighbour China https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjd9k852zdjo
Rubio’s language
on global security acknowledges partnership with Europe, but he was dismissive
of a rules-based world order and he criticised European immigration, trade and
climate policies https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2lrdq47149o
Trump and Witkoff don’t
understand. The massive show of US force bolsters public support for iran's regime, which cannot afford to let itself be
humiliated. And it's also difficult for Trump to climb down now https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn5gk15rr70o
Any country that
wants to “play games” with the Supreme Court decision, Trump posted, will be
met with “a much higher Tariff, and worse, than that which they just recently
agreed to.” He looks mad – best avoided https://apnews.com/live/trump-tariffs-supreme-court-2-23-2026
Trump seems
determined to make America bigger. He has gone quiet about annexing Greenland
and Canada, in the face of strong opposition, but perhaps his blockade of Cuba
will give him what he wants https://apnews.com/article/trump-cuba-friendly-takeover-rubio-venezuela-435f056b47cfd6bc0c0af875318fa123
Trump doesn't
understand that NATO was formed for collective defence, by mutual consent,
against Russia. He went into Iran on a whim, is surprised not to be helped, and
is now throwing a tantrum https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c79je4vldq5o
Trump is now denouncing both the Pope and Giorgia Meloni because they criticised him for his catastrophic war in Iran. It is a serious weakness in a powerful leader to be unable to accept criticism https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/trump-turns-meloni-says-he-is-shocked-by-italian-leader-2026-04-14/
China has now
demonstrated its technical supremacy in robotics. It is already the world
leader in green energy. The US is wasting money in waging war instead of
investing in people and technology https://apnews.com/article/humanoid-robots-half-marathon-beijing-302d0c4781bab20100d6a0bb4e77b629
Trump tears up agreements made by his predecessors and launches attacks in the middle of negotiations, so Iran can’t trust him – and this is impeding peace talks. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/21/us/politics/trust-trump-iran.html
Trump is trying to
bully European countries. He doesn't seem to understand how trade has benefited
every Western country, including the US, and he is diminishing the value of the
NATO security alliance https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/trumps-attacks-europes-leaders-worsen-transatlantic-frost-2026-05-01/
Trump is not
prepared to accept criticism from anybody, including the Pope. It is to be
expected that the Pope should preach against war – so Trump is unwise to pick a
quarrel that he cannot win https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2023gne5p1o
Trump has just vividly illustrated his transactional approach to foreign policy. He has no loyalty to allies. He is treating Taiwan as a bargaining chip (but has he considered Taiwan’s economic power?) https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-trump-arms-68eaac52b871e556aa6bd0509b101a90
Trump seems to
have an endless appetite for aggression. Having subjected Cubans to great
hardship with a fuel blockade he is now threatening to attack it https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/cuba-warns-us-military-action-would-cause-bloodbath-after-drone-report-2026-05-18/
David Frum’s 2019
analysis of Trump’s pettiness and envy of Obama applied to Greenland and Iran
at that time – and it is still relevant. Trump has revived tensions with
Greenland this week and is in conflict with Iran https://www.theguardian.com/news/shortcuts/2019/aug/21/is-trumps-deep-fear-and-envy-of-obama-behind-his-plan-to-purchase-greenland
President Trump is
in a state of denial. He inhabits an alternate reality. He has started wars of
choice in Iran and Venezuela, and is threatening Cuba. None of those countries
were a threat to the US https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/07/us/politics/trump-new-wars-compensation-fund.html