5 d. ago Starmer accuses Trump of diminishing sacrifice of Nato troops in Afghanistan

Prime minister joins MPs, veterans and relatives in condemning US president’s claim that troops avoided frontlinesUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has accused Donald Trump of “diminishing” the sacrifice of fallen British soldiers by claiming that those who fought in Afghanistan avoided the frontlines, as the US president faced a fierce backlash from all sides of the UK political spectrum as well as the families of veterans.Trump’s suggestion that Nato troops stayed “a little off the frontlines” in Afghanistan has resurfaced questions about his own avoidance of military service in Vietnam. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Americans disapprove of Trump’s foreign policy. His escapades are likely to cost him | Sid Blumenthal

History tells us what happens when American presidents focus on foreign policy and neglect domestic economic policyDonald Trump’s blitzkrieg since his 3 January seizure of the Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has been guided by his triumph of the will, as he told the New York Times. “Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me I don’t need international law.”Trump treats the spectacle as a reality TV show in which he is both the executive producer and the host who ultimately declares himself the winner. At his 3 January press conference on the day of Maduro’s seizure, Trump mentioned “oil” 27 times, “money” 13 times and “democracy” not once. He trashed the democratic opposition as lacking “respect” and “support”. The capture of Maduro was a decapitation, not regime change. Indeed, Trump served as a convenient agent of an internal coup of the existing powers, whom he declared “an ally”. “We have to fix the country first,” he said. “You...

Politics

1 week ago France becomes latest Nato member to confirm Greenland troop deployment – Europe live

Múte B. Egede, Greenland’s deputy prime minister, said more soldiers were expected in the coming daysDanish prime minister Mette Frederiksen has responded to last night’s “not easy” meeting with US representatives in Washington, warning that “there is a fundamental disagreement” over “the American ambition to take over Greenland.”In a post on Facebook, Frederiksen stressed the Danish government would “continue our efforts to prevent this scenario from becoming a reality.”The defence and protection of Greenland is a common concern for the entire Nato alliance. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago France latest to confirm Nato troop deployment after Trump says Greenland ‘very important’ for US national security – Europe live

Múte B. Egede, Greenland’s deputy prime minister, said more soldiers were expected in the coming daysFrance is the latest country to confirm a military deployment to Greenland as Denmark and allies are desperate to show US president Donald Trump that they take the Arctic security seriously and are capable of defending it if needed.Greenlandic deputy prime minister, Múte B. Egede, said that more soldiers were expected in the coming days, joined by “more military flights and ships” as part of hastily convened “Operation Convince Trump” “Operation Arctic Endurance.” Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago British crime lord 'plotted huge £216million cocaine deal in 31 suitcases'

A US indictment claims deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro was involved in a record cocaine importation plotted by British crime lord Robert Dawes, who was known as The One

Economics

2 w. ago Trump’s other Latin American feud: why Colombia’s Petro is not Maduro

Leftwing leader rallies his supporters as US president accuses him of drug trafficking and threatens military actionA leftwing South American firebrand calls for his followers to rally in public squares nationwide to defend his country’s sovereignty and decry verbal attacks from Donald Trump. The US president accuses the leader of personally flooding American streets with illegal drugs and imposes sanctions against him and his wife. Threats of military action are followed by a phone conversation between the two leaders.One might imagine that this is a description of the buildup of tensions that led to the 3 January special forces raid on Caracas to capture the Venezuelan leader, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, to face several criminal charges in New York. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Dispute erupts over who will represent former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in court

A lawyer squabble over who gets to represent former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in his New York drug case has erupted, with an ex-Justice Department official asking a judge to let Maduro settle the dispute

Politics

2 w. ago Russia says any western troops in Ukraine would be deemed ‘legitimate combat targets’ – Europe live

A Russian foreign ministry statement said statements by of pro-Ukraine governments becoming increasingly dangerousMeanwhile, Russia said that any western troops sent to Ukraine as part of the Coalition of the Willing would be deemed “legitimate combat targets,” after plans announced at the grouping’s summit earlier this week.Reuters reported that a Russian foreign ministry statement said “militaristic declarations” by a coalition of pro-Ukraine European governments were becoming increasingly dangerous. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Dithering EU leaders start squabbling among themselves as Trump unleashes chaos: European officials left floundering by Maduro capture and growing threat of Greenland invasion

Blind-sided European leaders have been left floundering by Donald Trump following his capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and the re-emerging threat of an invasion of Greenland. 

Politics

3 w. ago MPs would get vote on troop deployment to Ukraine, says Keir Starmer

UK and France ready to send peacekeeping troops, PM tells House of CommonsUK politics live – latest updatesMPs will have a debate and vote before any UK troops are deployed on peacekeeping duties in Ukraine, Keir Starmer has announced at prime minister’s questions.Speaking after Britain and France said they would be willing to send troops if there was a peace deal, following discussions at a wider summit in Paris, Starmer was pressed by Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, as to why he was not making a full Commons statement. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Starmer tells PMQs that MPs would get vote on deployment of troops to Ukraine – UK politics live

Starmer said UK willing to put peace-keeping troops on the ground in Ukraine, but Kemi Badenoch says PM’s plans lack detailFarage is now talking about London, where council elections are taking place.He says that Sadiq Khan has said he will run for a fourth term as mayor. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago PMQs live: Starmer says MPs would get vote on deployment of troops to Ukraine

Starmer said UK willing to put peace-keeping troops on the ground in Ukraine, but Kemi Badenoch says PM’s plans lack detailFarage is now talking about London, where council elections are taking place.He says that Sadiq Khan has said he will run for a fourth term as mayor. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago The Guardian view on Trump’s raid in Caracas: oil matters, but it’s not the whole story | Editorial

The seizure of Venezuelan leader was induced by the prize of petroleum, but driven by spectacle, geopolitics and domestic politicsIt’s all about oil. That was the reason Nicolás Maduro, the Venezuelan leader illegally abducted by US forces at the weekend, had given for Donald Trump’s fixation with his country. A better way to think about Venezuela is that oil was necessary but not sufficient. The presence of vast reserves made Mr Trump’s interest understandable – if Venezuela’s main export was bananas this would not have happened. But oil alone cannot explain the timing or scale of the move.Venezuelan crude is extra-heavy as well as expensive and slow to bring online; it will not immediately transform US energy systems, nor rescue refineries that have already adapted to years without it. Instead, oil is the “prize” around which other agendas cohere. These include future profits for US firms; modest downward pressure on oil prices; depriving China of a meaningful ally in Am...

Politics

3 w. ago Could China be using the US strike on Venezuela as a playbook for Taiwan?

Analysts have warned China may have taken note of the precedent set by Trump’s ousting of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro

Events

3 w. ago Venezuela could be just the first domino of Trump's 'Donroe Doctrine' as it's revealed he told oil exec to 'get ready' before ousting Maduro

The capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro could be just the first step in an ambitious campaign as a new document lays out Trump's playbook to reshape the world order.

Politics

3 w. ago Colombia's president vows to 'take up arms' amid Trump threats after Maduro captured

Trump said over the weekend that Gustavo Petro should ‘watch his ass’ after Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro seized

Politics

3 w. ago 'I'm a prisoner of war': Deposed Venezuelan leader Maduro appears in New York court after being captured by Trump

The captured Venezuelan dictator told a judge ‘I am a decent man’

Events

3 w. ago Stephen Miller escalates Trump’s threats for the US to take over Greenland and defends Venezuela raid in fiery CNN appearance

During a heated back and forth with Jake Tapper, the White House deputy chief of staff argued the ‘future of the free world’ depended on the U.S. taking aggressive actions such as the recent capture of ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro

Politics

3 w. ago Key moments in the US arrest of and case against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro

After apparent months of planning, the U.S. strike that resulted in the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro unfolded swiftly over the weekend, with American forces converging on Caracas to arrest Maduro and his wife

Politics

3 w. ago Nicolas Maduro pictured in handcuffs as Venezuelan leader escorted to court

An extraordinary day in New York saw ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro hauled before a court after being snatched from his home country by Donald Trump amid furious protests

Politics