The American president’s unpredictable behaviour has injected uncertainty into world politics and economy, as well as the existing world order.
Love him or hate him, but Donald Trump is chang-ing the world order. Three contrasting spectacles in three countries in three days underline the stunning tectonic shifts. For the first time, an American president signs a denuclearisation agreement with the North Korean dictatorturned “Chairman” Kim Jong-un in Singapore, a historic deal that could dissolve the last frontier of the Cold War. Equally historic was the agreement of the Group of Seven industrialised nations that an American president did not sign—also for the first time. In stark contrast to the G7 disarray in Canada was the show of unity in China by the “Xi 8” or the Shanghai Summit led by Xi Jinping. Do these events symbolise a declining west, a rising east, a new world disorder characterised by U-turns and abuse?
“There is a special place in hell for any foreign leader who engages in bad faith diplomacy with President Trump and then tries to stab him in the back,” said Trump’s trade adviser Peter Navarro to Fox News. Just six months ago, we would have assumed Navarro was talking about Kim. Trump’s condemnation of America’s closest ally, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, calling him “meek, mild and dishonest” was unprecedented. This was followed by revok ing support for the G7 communique, which had met all his demands for reducing subsidies and trade barriers. “It is sobering and a little depressing,” responded German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who after Trump’s election, had predicted that America was henceforth undependable, and that Europe would have to fend for itself. Now it is “Europe United” vs “America First”.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 24, 2018 من THE WEEK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 24, 2018 من THE WEEK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Ram temple not an issue in south
Much has been said this election season about the alleged north-south divide.
Haute and sweaty
In Mumbai, where I live and work, there is a severe heatwave going on. The highest temperature this month has been 40 degrees, sweltering and humid for the coastal city.
MOVE AWAY MARY!
In many parts of the world,unique names are becoming popular
CALL OF THE WILD
Tejas Thackeray, the younger son of former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, shares his passion for wildlife conservation and photography
CEPA and beyond
Bilateral trade between the UAE and India has grown almost 16 per cent year-on-year, touching $84.5 billion
Brash and raw
When I chanced upon Raj Narain, who humbled Indira Gandhi
Lone voice of dissent
“I am keen to invite Parakala [Prabhakar] to Mumbai… What do you think? Do you know him?” A friend asked. No, I don’t know the man. And no, it is not a good idea to invite him, unless you want to invite trouble, I replied.
Modi and the Muslim syndrome
I have long been intrigued by the prime minister’s desire to hug every passing sheikh and sultan and his contrasting contempt for the ordinary Indian Muslim.
Assam Rifles not trained to guard borders; need separate force for Manipur border
Imphal is blanketed in darkness. The sun has set a little too soon in the valley, but N. Biren Singh is yet to call it a day.
SPOTLIGHT ON THE SENTINELS
Manipur government wants the Assam Rifles replaced, but the Union home ministry is focused on upgrading infrastructure and connectivity before deciding who guards the state