2 h. ago There is no ‘Trump Doctrine’ in foreign policy. Just chaos | Sidney Blumenthal

The recent summit meeting in Alaska between Trump and Putin was nothing short of a theater of the absurdAll the elaborate efforts of the European allies to prevent Donald Trump from prostrating himself before Vladimir Putin came to naught at their summit meeting in Alaska. Flattering, coddling and petting the big baby appeared to have been in vain. Before the 15 August summit, the Europeans persuaded Trump to impose new sanctions if Putin would not agree to a ceasefire, which would serve as a prerequisite for any negotiations. But Trump willfully tossed policy like a stuffed animal out of the window of “the Beast,” the presidential car as he eagerly invited Putin to join him for a triumphant chariot ride.The Europeans scrambled once again, trying to get the addled Trump back on the page he was on before the summit. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, sped to Washington to confer with Trump to try to pick up the pieces. At their last encounter, Trump jibed: “You don’t have any ...

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5 h. ago Matt Gaetz has the solution for the Ukraine War: Make Russia part of NATO

‘The idea has been floated by foreign policy thinkers on the right and left for some time,’ former Republican congressman says

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3 d. ago Voices: Unless he can fix things at home, Keir Starmer will get no credit for his diplomatic skills

He may have helped to persuade Donald Trump not to abandon Ukraine, but for all his energy devoted to foreign policy, the PM has gained no credit for it at home, writes John Rentoul

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3 d. ago Voices: Unless he can fix things at home, Keir Starmer will get no credit for his diplomatic skill

The prime minister may have helped to persuade Donald Trump not to abandon Ukraine, but for all his energy devoted to foreign policy, Keir Starmer has gained no credit for it at home, writes John Rentoul

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7 d. ago EU leaders defend Ukraine’s freedom to decide future ahead of Trump

Statement on Ukrainian sovereignty signed by all EU leaders except for Viktor Orbán before call with TrumpEurope live – latest updatesRead all our coverage of the Ukraine warEuropean Union leaders made a rallying call to defend Ukraine’s freedom to decide its own future in advance of their virtual summit with Donald Trump – convened to discuss US strategy before the president’s talks with Vladimir Putin on Friday.With the exception of Hungary, all EU leaders signed a joint statement, with Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief, also calling for the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to attend the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska on Friday. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago David Lammy faces possible legal action over Foreign Office secondments

Campaigners say placing staff from Shell and BAE Systems in ministries creates potential for improper influenceDavid Lammy is facing possible legal action over a plan to invite staff from the oil firm Shell and the defence firm BAE Systems to work inside the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.A pre-action letter seen by the Guardian warns the foreign secretary that the scheme leaves the government open to allegations of a conflict of interest and creates the potential for “improper influence”.An alleged lack of transparency as to how the proposed scheme will operate.The potential for improper influence by representatives of Shell and BAE Systems on UK government practices, including in relation to foreign policy.The potential for conflicts of interest. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago The more James Gunn’s Superman is a hit, the more the right will want its own Dean Cain of steel

The star of 90s TV series Lois & Clark and wannabe Ice agent has expressed his horror at Gunn’s ‘woke’ hero. Is there a market for Superman: Border Patrol? It’s almost impossible to divide superheroes along political lines. Captain America might seem like a patriotic, commie-bashing lunatic, as he was in the 1950s comics during the McCarthy era, until you remember that he has also spent much of his fictional career telling corrupt government agencies to shove it. And, in the Marvel Comic Universe, at least, he went on the run rather than sign up for an authoritarian superhero registry. Superman was once the square-jawed poster boy for US exceptionalism, cheerfully posing on propaganda comic covers urging readers to buy war bonds, but he’s also been written as a Kansas farm boy so suspicious of concentrated power that in one storyline he renounced his citizenship to avoid being used as a pawn of US foreign policy.Bar a few outliers – Iron Man cheerleading the military-industrial ...

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2 w. ago Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to Trump on sanctions against Russia and drones in ‘productive’ call – Europe live

Ukrainian president says ‘President Trump’s determination can change a lot’ as leaders speak about Russia increasing severity of strikesOn Ukraine, the EU spokespeople were asked about the bloc’s expectations as to Donald Trump’s deadline for Russia to end its invasion on Ukraine by Friday.The commission’s foreign policy spokesperson, Anitta Hipper, said:“Russia is not interested in peace. Ukraine is, the EU is. Nobody wants peace more than Ukraine and the EU. We welcome any pressure, and in particular US pressure on Russia to accept a ceasefire through any means necessary.”“I believe that for what we have been able to verify there has been some improvement compared to the situation before this agreement was reached. Is this sufficient? Absolutely not. Continue reading...

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2 w. ago Trump says EU could face 35% tariffs if it fails to fulfil $600bn investment ‘gift’ – Europe live

US president says he can ‘do anything I want’ with sum and that pharma tariffs could be 250%On Ukraine, the EU spokespeople were asked about the bloc’s expectations as to Donald Trump’s deadline for Russia to end its invasion on Ukraine by Friday.The commission’s foreign policy spokesperson, Anitta Hipper, said:“Russia is not interested in peace. Ukraine is, the EU is. Nobody wants peace more than Ukraine and the EU. We welcome any pressure, and in particular US pressure on Russia to accept a ceasefire through any means necessary.”“I believe that for what we have been able to verify there has been some improvement compared to the situation before this agreement was reached. Is this sufficient? Absolutely not. Continue reading...

Economics

2 w. ago Norway, Sweden and Denmark to finance €430m military package for Ukraine – Europe live

Package will include support for Ukraine’s ‘air defence, ammunition and other essential equipment’, says Norwegian governmentOn Ukraine, the EU spokespeople were asked about the bloc’s expectations as to Donald Trump’s deadline for Russia to end its invasion on Ukraine by Friday.The commission’s foreign policy spokesperson, Anitta Hipper, said:“Russia is not interested in peace. Ukraine is, the EU is. Nobody wants peace more than Ukraine and the EU. We welcome any pressure, and in particular US pressure on Russia to accept a ceasefire through any means necessary.”“I believe that for what we have been able to verify there has been some improvement compared to the situation before this agreement was reached. Is this sufficient? Absolutely not. Continue reading...

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