#trump visit to india

[decolonize-the-left]

If you don't vote for Biden the gays will be rounded up in Project2025! No more abortion! No more anything!

Vote Biden!!

You mean this Biden?

U.S. will never allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon, Biden tells Israel's Lapid

US to launch West Asia Quad with India, Israel and UAE during Biden's visit

.....The same joe Biden that's ALREADY completing goals outlined in Project 2025?

And these are only links and evidence for one page.

Vote 3rd party or don't vote at all, I'm not your dad, do what feels right to you.

But don't vote blue and tell everyone it's a vote against Project2025 or Trump or fascism or that you're saving democracy with your vote. Because you're not. It's literally just gaslighting or at the very least an ignorant and uninformed stance.

You might as well be burning your ballot or voting for Trump.

Quit guilting everyone for not wanting to vote blue when him supporting apartheid & genocide is a good enough reason not to, let alone all of this, too.

And if you're gonna vote for him anyway, get used to being called a white supremacist who supports fascists. Because that's what you would be.

[skzhera]

News: Stray kids Hera was spotted at the Jamnagar airport, India.

Article: The member was seen in India just a couple of weeks after her prior visit. Sources speculate it's for the big Ambani family wedding in Jamnagar. Some of the guests at pre-wedding party for son of Asia’s richest man include, Bill Gates, Ivanka Trump, Mark Zuckerberg, Rihanna, The Bachchans The Khans, and many more.

Here's Hera's airport outfit. Her schedule was not announced and she wasn't caught on the Incheon Airport while leaving. She was just spotted arriving in India.

Hera's Masterlist!

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Lula’s Confused About Who Attacked Whom in Ukraine

Having defended democracy at home, Brazil inspired hope that it might sympathize with the struggle for freedom elsewhere too. Apparently not.

With democrats like Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who needs autocrats? Shame on Lula for pretending that Kyiv, NATO and the European Union are as much to blame for Russia’s genocidal war against Ukraine as the wannabe Tsar in the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin. Shame on Lula for doing nothing to help Ukraine. 

Lula was sworn into his old job — he was already president between 2003 and 2010 — only one month ago. That followed the four-year stint of right-wing populist Jair Bolsonaro — “the Trump of the Tropics.” A week after Lula took over, pro-Bolsonaro mobs even ransacked federal buildings in Brasilia, in a farcical reprise of the attack on the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. When Brazil’s institutions — and Lula — withstood that assault, much of the democratic world exhaled in relief. 

“We’re all delighted that Brazil is back on the global stage,” Scholz beamed at Lula during his visit to Brasilia this week. “You guys have been sorely missed.” Lula spontaneously gave the chancellor a hug.

In particular, Scholz wants to broaden the alliance to support Ukraine and oppose Putin by including as many countries as possible in the “Global South.” Last year, for example, when he hosted the Group of Seven, a club of liberal democracies with large economies, he also invited India, Indonesia, South Africa and Senegal. 

But it was Lula who not only rebuffed Scholz’s entreaties wholesale but also lost the plot entirely. “Brazil has no interest in passing on ammunition so that it will be used in the war,” Lula said at their joint press conference. “Brazil does not want to have any participation, even indirect.”

For a glimpse into Lula’s reasoning, it helps to read his comments in an interview with Time Magazine last year. “It’s not just Putin who is guilty,” Lula insisted. “The US and the EU are also guilty” — apparently for not being more categorical in ruling out Ukraine’s membership in NATO (which hasn’t even been up for discussion since 2008). 

But Lula had more to say. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy may strike most people as an inspirational leader defying a brutal invasion. Not Lula. The Brazilian president believes Zelenskiy is “weird” and behaves like a publicity hound flitting from one TV camera to the next, when he should instead be “negotiating” — presumably about Ukraine’s capitulation. “This guy is as responsible as Putin for the war,” he said.

Come again?

Continue reading.

[simply-ivanka]

Trump Was Good for America’s Alliances

He pushed NATO to spend more on defense, expanded the Quad and facilitated the Abraham Accords.

By Alexander B. Gray Wall Street Journal April 3, 2024

Foreign-policy experts are predictably fretting over Donald Trump’s re-election campaign. They fear that the former president threatens the alliances and partnerships that have sustained global peace since 1945. Should Mr. Trump return to the White House, the thinking goes, he will be unconstrained by the guardrails that prevented him from torpedoing America’s alliances in his first term and will permanently damage both U.S. security and the international order.

This narrative concedes a point that undermines its premise: The U.S. alliance system didn’t crumble during Mr. Trump’s first term. On the contrary, the Trump administration strengthened relations with partners in the Indo-Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe and the Mideast. Anyone who believes that Mr. Trump was once bound by conventional wisdom but won’t be again—and will wreak havoc on the global order he ostensibly detests—hasn’t been paying attention.

To understand Mr. Trump’s record, recall what he inherited. The Obama administration’s disastrous “red line” in Syria, its ill-conceived Iranian nuclear deal, its failure to deter or respond adequately to Russia’s 2014 aggression against Ukraine, its toleration of Chinese malign activity in the South and East China seas, and its promise of a “new model of great-power relations” with Beijing had brought U.S. relations with allies and partners like Japan, Taiwan, Israel, the Gulf Arab states and much of Eastern Europe to a historic low point. Much of Mr. Trump’s tenure was spent not simply repairing those relationships but expanding them in innovative ways.

Mr. Trump appalled many foreign-policy veterans, who thought his rhetoric threatened the world order. In one sense, that fear was absurd: Nearly every American administration has publicly scolded North Atlantic Treaty Organization member countries for shirking their defense-spending commitments. Mr. Trump did likewise—and, perhaps unlike his predecessors, was seen as willing to take decisive action to secure change. Through public and private cajoling—also known as diplomacy—he secured a commitment from NATO members to beef up their contributions. From 2017 through 2021, nearly every signatory raised defense spending, contributing substantially to the alliance’s ability to respond to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

These efforts resulted in a significant redistribution of U.S. forces from legacy bases in Germany to facilities in Poland and the Baltic states, where they are far better positioned to deter Moscow. Along with NATO allies, Mr. Trump provided long-sought Javelin antitank missiles to Ukraine, imposed sanctions against malign Russian actors, and worked with partners to stop the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which would have increased European allies’ energy dependence on Russia. These weren’t the acts of a retrograde isolationist; they were the work of a pragmatist seeking novel solutions to 21st-century challenges.

The administration’s goal of strengthening America’s standing in the world bore fruit, including the Abraham Accords between Israel and several Arab states, a significant upgrade to the Quad alliance among the U.S., India, Australia and Japan, stronger diplomatic relations with Taiwan thanks to unprecedented cabinet-level visits and record arms sales, and an unexpected deal between Serbia and Kosovo.

At each step, Mr. Trump asked his staff to think of creative ways to resolve issues that had bedeviled their predecessors for decades. Doing the same things over and over and expecting different results rightly struck the president as insane.

After three years of press adulation over America’s supposed return to the world stage under President Biden, one might ask: What have Americans and the world gotten from a supposedly more alliance-friendly U.S. president? So far, a catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan, the failure of American deterrence in Ukraine, an Iranian nuclear breakout inching ever closer, and an accelerating Chinese threat toward Taiwan. Allies in the Mideast, Eastern Europe, and Asia have begun to chart their own course in the face of an uncertain U.S. trumpet.

The global foreign-policy elite is sowing needless fear around the world by willfully misrepresenting Mr. Trump’s first term and scare-mongering about a second. Should Mr. Trump return to the White House, there will doubtless be sighs of relief among officials in friendly capitals who remember his time in office. It isn’t difficult to understand why: Mr. Trump’s language may make diplomats uncomfortable, but his actions strike fear among those who matter most to American security: our adversaries.

Mr. Gray is a senior fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council. He served as chief of staff of the White House National Security Council, 2019-21.

[fillejondrette]

my cousin's girlfriend's parents are from india, and she was thinking of planning a trip to visit family there. my grandma started freaking out when she heard about this until my cousin showed her on a map that india is thousands of miles away from israel/palestine. sorry nana i love you but. average trump supporter behavior.

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

Donald Trump made up to $160 million from international business dealings while he was serving as President of the United States, according to an analysis of his tax returns by CREW.

Throughout his time in office, President Trump, his family and his Republican allies repeatedly assured the public that his refusal to divest from his businesses wouldn’t lead to any conflicts of interest. Americans were promised that Trump would donate his salary, which he did, until maybe he didn’t—all while siphoning millions from taxpayers that more than offset his presidential pay. When it came to foreign conflicts of interest, Trump and his company pledged to pause foreign business. They did not.

Trump pulled in the most money from the United Kingdom, where his Aberdeen and Turnberry golf courses in Scotland helped him gross $58 million. Trump’s now-defunct hotel and tower in Vancouver helped him pull in $36.5 million from Canada. Trump brought in more than $24.4 million from Ireland, home to his often-visited Doonbeg golf course, as well as $9.6 million from India, and nearly $9.7 million from Indonesia.

Trump’s presidency was marred by unprecedented conflicts of interest arising from his decision not to divest from the Trump Organization, with his most egregious conflicts involving businesses in foreign countries with interests in US foreign policy.

The full extent to which Trump’s foreign business ties influenced his decision making as President may never be known, but there is plenty of evidence that Trump’s actions in the White House were influenced–if not guided–by his financial interests, subverting the national interests for his own parochial concerns. For example, while campaigning in 2015, Trump bragged to a crowd in Alabama about his longstanding business ties with the Saudis. “They buy apartments from me. They spend $40 million, $50 million,” he told the crowd. “Am I supposed to dislike them? I like them very much.” In office, Trump continued to benefit from Saudi business and faced repeated criticism, especially in the wake of the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, for his apparent desire to shield Saudi leaders from criticism, going so far as to question US intelligence while parroting allegations from Saudi Arabia that Khashoggi was tied to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Other instances of Trump’s business interests bleeding into his administration’s foreign policy abound. In 2019, Trump stunned the US foreign policy establishment by pulling US troops out of northeast Syria. The decision had no obvious benefits to the US and was a bombshell reversal to allied Kurds, but it was a victory for Turkey, where Trump had done business for years. In China, Trump again shocked even his GOP allies when he pledged to help sanctioned Chinese company ZTE because, as he tweeted, there were “[t]oo many jobs in China lost,” despite warnings from US intelligence officials that the company’s products may be used by the Chinese government to spy on Americans. When Trump’s tax returns were released more than four years later, they showed a Chinese bank account he claimed to have closed in 2015 and, according to CREW’s analysis, more than $7.5 million in income from China. In Argentina, Trump held off on enacting tariffs until after trademarks for his company had been approved.

Trump also used the US foreign policy apparatus to direct business to his properties. For example, Trump’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom reportedly told embassy staff that Trump pushed him to get the British Open to be held at one of his Scottish golf resorts. During a trip to Europe, Trump insisted on staying at his remote Irish resort in Doonbeg, claiming it was “convenient,” while the Trump Organization promoted his visit. Trump also reportedly pressured the Irish prime minister to meet him at Doonbeg, and threatened to move his visit to Scotland instead if he didn’t.

Despite a near constant stream of reporting about corruption involving Trump’s business at home and abroad, Trump and his family have spent years swearing they put a hold on all foreign deals and that the presidency was without conflicts of interest. After his election Trump proclaimed, “The law’s totally on my side, meaning, the president can’t have a conflict of interest.” Eric and Don Jr. echoed that sentiment. In a June 2017 interview on Good Morning America, Eric proclaimed that he and his father didn’t talk about business at all and that Trump has “zero conflicts of interest.” In October 2019 Eric said on Fox News, “when my father became commander in chief of this country, we got out of all international business.”

The Trumps did not put a hold on foreign business. In fact, they even signed new deals. Barely two weeks after Eric Trump claimed the Trump Organization put foreign business on hold, the Trump Organization trumpeted approval to build “a new ballroom, pool, spa, leisure facilities, 235 additional resort rooms, gate house and much more” at the Doonbeg golf course in Ireland. A local council in Scotland also voted to allow the Trump Organization to expand its Aberdeen golf course by building 550 homes and a second golf course. Eric Trump celebrated this “new phase of development” on Twitter. At the same time, Eric was bashing Hunter Biden on Fox News for “cashing in” while his father was Vice President.

The Trumps took advantage of the presidency to revive dormant old deals as well, revisiting projects in countries like India, Uruguay, the Dominican Republic, and more during the administration.

The Trumps were openly engaging in multiple international business deals and let the world know that they hoped to continue expanding internationally after Trump left office. According to the Wall Street Journal, Eric Trump predicted that after Trump leaves office, the “Trump Organization will launch a major expansion that will in part focus on luxury hotels abroad.” Don Jr. was even more specific, telling an Indian newspaper, “India is a market that we would be very interested [in] post politics,” along with “other markets.”

It’s no secret that Trump was struggling financially before he announced his run for office. His tax returns show that the presidency was great for his bank account. Congressional Republicans may have halted their inquiry into Trump’s finances, but there is still much to discover about the extent to which he truly abused the presidency for his own personal profit.

[myrddin-wylt]

Brief, sourceless news recaps:

US Congress is passing a bill to prevent the president from unilaterally withdrawing from NATO, because Fuck Trump and fuck his MAGA isolationism bullshit.

Xi Jinping is... hanging out with Henry Kissinger? Like, voluntarily, for fun? apparently it's a private visit, not an official state one, though I seriously doubt 100yro Kissinger just decided to take a vacation on the other side of the world on a whim. but WOW you know tensions are bad when the US (allegedly) sends in fucking Henry Kissinger of all people.

THERE'S A LION ROAMING BERLIN? HELLO???

NYC trying to keep out migrants again. disappointed but not surprised.

I have no idea what just happened in India and I'd really appreciate if someone more informed could explain.

The US soldier that defected to the DPRK still hasn't been heard from. his family says his erratic behavior is likely a mental/emotional breakdown due to personal loss.

The anti-Sweden protests in Iraq, Turkey, UAE et al have finally gotten to a tipping point: today protestors stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad, and Iraq expelled Sweden's embassy staff from the country a few hours later.

Probably old news to a lot of you but Russia has not only pulled out of the grain deal, but is actively attacking grain storage warehouses and treating all ships in the area as valid targets. This is interesting timing due to....

The Kremlin just announced that Putin will not be attending the BRICS summit in South Africa, and that a delegate would be going instead. Recall that South Africa is a signatory of the Rome Statute (the International Criminal Court) and is obligated to arrest Putin if he is in the country. Ramaphosa says he won't do that, but I imagine he appreciates not being put in the position anyway.

The reason those two points are connected is because Ramaphosa has been pushing for some sort of solution to allow more grain exports to the African continent to alleviate the (global but particularly acute in northern Africa and the Mediterranean-Middle East) food shortage.

Tldr: Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya have already been suffering from severe famine and Putin told them to go eat cake.

This was earlier this month and I'm not sure if I posted about it, but the UN is cutting food aid program to Haiti by 25% due to aforementioned food shortage and high prices. once I'm off mobile I'll link my post to organizations you can donate to help.

There was an explosion in Johannesburg? Two of them? Apparently a gas leak. That's not related to the geopolitics with Russia, at least as far as I know, the timing is just close.

I don't know any of the details of the situation, but Israel is apparently having a fight with the US over the visa rights of Palestinian-Americans.

Yesterday, Herzog met with Biden and gave a speech to Congress despite aforementioned strained tensions.

I thought yesterday there was another military escalation by Israel against Palestine but I can't find it?????? Am I hallucinating or am I thinking of Jenin?

[ifmfincoachinfo]

The Future of Mutual Funds - All that you need to know

India is rapidly seeing an escalating digital revolution. Whether it is internet penetration, data uptake or even the latest technology trends, India is applauded worldwide. All this started back in 2015 when the government of India initiated the Digital India Programme.

Later in 2016, demonetization was a big step in the digital era. All these events resulted in the growth of opportunities in the field of the mutual fund industry. Investors have also started to adopt mutual funds as their means of investment. 

Mutual Fund Industry - How it got evolve?

Initially, many investors believed that investing in mutual funds was not suitable for them. However, a series of events changed the opinion of the people.

The announcement of demonetization by Narendra Modi, Donald Trump's win, an increase in oil prices and an asset base of 17 lakh were seen in 2016; all these events led to awareness in the mutual fund field in our country.

Also, the CAGR (Compounded Annual Growth Rate) was 18% which was a huge step in the evolvement of the mutual fund industry. 

SIP- A  facility offered by mutual funds to the investors 

SIP is a big factor leading to rapid growth in the industry. Today, more than one crore of customers have active SIP, i.e. Systematic Investment Plans.

If mutual funds industry growth is to be considered, the Indian market is already booming. The most significant indication is the number of foreign-based management companies progressing into the Indian market.

If the latest data is to be considered, the MF industry's total AUM had risen 20 per cent to Rs 37.6 trillion in 2021-22. The industry added 31.6 million net new folios, taking the count to 129.5 million.

The systematic investment plan expanded to Rs 12,328 crore in FY22, with new SIP registrations at 26.6 million. Apparently, mutual funds in India are more likely to penetrate urban, semi-urban and rural areas. For this, some financial planners make the process easy by financial planning. 

Opportunities in the mutual fund industry 

Be it any industry, improvement is one rule that leads to positive change. In the mutual fund industry field, large-scale changes have been taking place, leading to evolution and innovation.

For example, new opportunities have evolved in asset management, which requires investments in different assets, including securities, stocks, bonds, and real estate, managed by a manager.

It also requires proper management firms, including front, middle and back office functions. The significant roles within the investment team include economists, research analysts, fund managers, dealers and traders.

Economists - Economists ensure the latest trends, future and its influence on international and domestic markets. The roles and responsibilities include preparing reports and market presentations on macroeconomic developments and sectoral shifts. As an Economist, you must prepare the team for the risks in the market. At the same time, macro and policy analysis, forecasting, modelling macro variables, and providing investment insights are the management team's responsibilities. 

Analysts - This is another excellent opportunity in the field of the mutual fund industry. The analysts track your investment recommendations by observing the prices of assets from the day of purchase to how they perform over time. You can also opt for the profile of equity research analysts who carry out telephone calls with all the dealers and intermediates. These calls usually comprise suggestions for the customers while speaking with the organization's administration, retail deals, constraints and so on. Plus, visiting the organizations and carrying out meetings, gathering data, surveying monetary explanations, and evaluating the income and benefits of the organization. 

Fund Managers - Another opportunity you can use in the mutual fund field is fund managers. As a fund manager, you must choose the best stocks, bonds, and financial market instruments and give the result to the investors by fulfilling the fund's objective. Later, fund managers search for the financials of publicly and privately traded companies. This is quite an interesting profile as it involves researching, collecting information, reading financial briefings and knowledge about global economic events. 

If you are somebody who loves conducting research or has financial modelling skills, reporting skills, and mathematical proficiency, you can opt for fund managers as your career. Based on your research, a list of companies falls under the investment objective. Fund managers also prepare a portfolio and accompany sales and marketing professionals to various events for promotions. Other than this, all the decisions related to portfolio composition are made by fund managers. 

Dealers/Traders- Dealers place the orders according to the instructions. Then there are sales and client relation teams that market the organization and promote their products and services. You also have the chance to be a part of the infrastructure team that keeps the entire organization moving. From IT to HR, the infrastructure team is vital for the motion of any company. 

Takeaway

We all know that algorithms are one factor that is gaining popularity in earnings and economic news. This directly opens the door to short-term trading.

On top of that, several asset managers are using machine learning methods to process the data. This is the future of asset management. If talking about the critical roles at investment firms in future, there will be a need of 

Investment decision maker

Investment Researcher

Private wealth manager

The technology firm will need 

 Data Scientist 

 Application Engineer 

 Investment Banker

 Investment Officer

 Investment researcher

 Private Wealth Manager

The innovation team will need 

Investment thinking and process innovator

Knowledge Engineer

Innovation Facilitator 

A few factors may challenge growth, but change is guaranteed. 

[sohinitheexplorer]

My introduction to the world of Digital Activism.

Today I learnt a little bit about a phenomenon called digital activism. In vague terms it is the process of standing up for a cause or advertising any kind of ideology that may help serve some kind of issue for the betterment of some kind of community......all done electronically. It is a revolutionary way of mass communication that helps people become aware of situations that they haven’t come across personally and can further influence them to take a certain course of action towards a particular cause or causes.

This whole discussion about led me to think deeply about what really is ACTIVISM?

Well this question has multifaceted answers and verbs to look forward to:

1) When we want to talk on behalf of someone in a way that brings light to their struggle so that people become aware of it, it is called ADVOCACY. For example, actor Ethan Hawke standing up for LGBTQ+ community rights.

2) When we want an audience to focus on what we want to say and stand for a cause, it is called DRAWING ATTENTION to the cause. For example, The Principles of Communism (1847) by Friedrich Engles is a small booklet that highlights worker rights and future of capitalistic worldview/economy and it’s dangers. He predicted the colonisation of India and China via rapid industrialisation.

3)When we constantly supply information to some kind of platform to shed light on a particular situation that needs to be fixed, it is called RAISING AWARENESS. For example, Rollie Williams a climate change activist made a YouTube channel to publish videos and content about climate change and pollution. Now he has a huge platform of approximately 3,89,000 subscribers who engage with his work constantly and are constatly motivated to be more eco friendly in their life and life choices.

4) When we want to approach a person or a party who is causing the genesis of the cause everyone is standing for with all the appropriate evidence, it is called HOLDING someone ACCOUNTABLE. For example, Christian Smalls is an American labor organizer known for his role in leading Amazon's worker organization on Staten Island, a borough in New York City.

5) When someone exercises the act of retrospection of their own actions and situation, in a way they become aware of a certain kind of systemic advantage. This is called PRIVILAGE CHECKING. For example, Hello, Privilege. It's Me, Chelsea is a 2019 documentary directed by Alex Stapleton and starring Chelsea Handler. The premise revolves around examining the concept of white privilege.

6) When we try to engage in a conversation that encourages changes in behavior of the person or part at fault, that is called NEGOTIATION. For example, Throughout 1928 in Colonial India, cries of “Simon, Go Back” rang out in every city which the British Commission visited. And eventually, Indians got their independence on 15th of August 1947.

7) When we want to communicate our activism through visuals or art, that is called SYMBOLISING. For example, Pink Venus and Fist were created by the feminist community of the contemporary era to symbolise feminism and female power.

And as I said, all this activism done electronically is called digital activism. I think the coolest part about digital activism is it allows the causes to gain momentum in a short period of time....without taking too much space....or barely any space since it is virtual however the impact is very real. I am an environmentalist, so I really appreciate the part that this all is very eco friendly...no by products no wastage of resources, I mean not as much as making posters on paper to yell about saving trees, or travelling in cars rallying about how we hate Trump while burning fossil fuels or, the most wasteful activity of making an effigy of OPEC founders to let them know about their catastrophic impact on earth's ecology and economy. That is what I care about.

References :

1) Ethan Hawke supporting LGBTQ+ cause; 2011 publish Human Rights Campaign Youtube Chanel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZO4KeFiXBik&ab_channel=HumanRightsCampaign

2) The Principles of Communism by Friedrich Engles (1847)

https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1847/11/prin-com.htm

3) Rollie Williams Climate Town

https://www.youtube.com/c/ClimateTown

4) Christian smalls

Amazon fired Chris Smalls. Now the new union leader is one of its biggest problems. What’s next for the face of America’s new labor movement by Shirin Ghaffary  Jun 7, 2022. Photographs by José A. Alvarado Jr. for Vox

https://www.vox.com/recode/23145265/amazon-fired-chris-smalls-union-leader-alu-jeff-bezos-bernie-sanders-aoc-labor-movement-biden

5) Simon Go Back History

Opinion | 90 years later, India must send Simon back Columns By Arghya Sengupta Updated on Jul 19, 2019

https://www.hindustantimes.com/columns/opinion-90-years-later-india-must-send-simon-back/story-2V64TbLO9T7EdyutjcHTPL.html

[yourreddancer]

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

August 20, 2022 (Saturday)

Earlier this month, on August 2, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a Democratic delegation commanded headlines when they traveled to Taiwan, an independently governed East Asian country made up of 168 islands on which about 24 million people live, and which China claims. Since 1979 the U.S. has helped to maintain the defensive capabilities of the democratically governed area, although it has been vague about whether it would intervene if China attacks Taiwan.

Pelosi’s visit made her the highest-ranking U.S. politician to visit Taiwan since 1997, when Republican speaker Newt Gingrich visited the self-ruled island. Pelosi and a delegation of House Democrats who lead committees relevant to U.S. foreign relations—Gregory Meeks (NY), Mark Takano (CA), Suzan DelBene (WA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL), and Andy Kim (NJ)—visited Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan. Taiwan was added quietly.

Since then, another, bipartisan, congressional delegation has visited Taiwan. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA); Representatives John Garamendi (D-CA), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), and Don Beyer (D-VA); and Delegate Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R–American Samoa) visited Taiwan earlier this week. Markey chairs the Senate Foreign Relations East Asia, Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Subcommittee, and Beyer is chair of the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee (JEC); the rest of the delegation represents people in or near the Pacific Ocean. 

Before visiting Taiwan, Markey was in South Korea to talk about trade and technology, including the green technologies the U.S. is now funding through the Inflation Reduction Act, as well as “shared values and interests.

”There is a larger story behind these visits to Taiwan. Early this year, the Biden administration launched a new, comprehensive initiative in the Indo-Pacific. Beginning with the tsunami in the Indian Ocean in 2004, the U.S. began to work informally with the “Quad,” the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, consisting of the U.S., Australia, India, and Japan. In 2016, Japan introduced the concept of a free and open Indo-Pacific. 

 When former president Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, he left the participants to continue without the U.S., which they did as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). He also left open the way for a free trade deal in the region dominated by China, called the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or RCEP, which went into effect on January 1, 2022. 

This left the Biden administration with two politically poor choices: try to reestablish U.S. participation in the region through the CPTPP, which would have been hotly contested at home and thus unlikely to get through Congress, or let China dominate the region, with damaging long-term effects. So the administration found a third way.

After some complaints that the administration had focused its attention too closely on the Middle East and Europe, in February the Biden administration released a document outlining its “Indo-Pacific Strategy,” claiming that the U.S. is part of the Indo-Pacific region, which stretches from our Pacific coastline to the Indian Ocean. The area, the report says, “is home to more than half of the world’s people, nearly two-thirds of the world’s economy, and seven of the world’s largest militaries. More members of the U.S. military are based in the region than in any other outside the United States. It supports more than three million American jobs and is the source of nearly $900 billion in foreign direct investment in the United States. In the years ahead, as the region drives as much as two-thirds of global economic growth, its influence will only grow—as will its importance to the United States.”

The document notes the long history of the U.S. and the countries in the region, and it warns against the rising power of the People’s Republic of China there. The document promises to compete responsibly with China by balancing influence in the world, creating an environment in the region “that is maximally favorable to the United States, our allies and partners, and the interests and values we share.”

Crucially, the document focuses not on the trade deals that made the TPP so unpopular, but on ideological ones, promoting “a free and open Indo-Pacific,” where countries “can make independent political choices free from coercion.” The U.S. will contribute to that atmosphere, the document says, “through investments in democratic institutions, a free press, and a vibrant civil society,” by strengthening partnerships within the region and outside it, such as the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The plan promises that the U.S. will invest in the region through diplomacy, education, and security. 

In May, President Joe Biden hosted the U.S.–Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Special Summit in the U.S. for the first time “to re-affirm the United States’ enduring commitment to Southeast Asia and underscore the importance of U.S.-ASEAN cooperation in ensuring security, prosperity, and respect for human rights.” And the State Department announced that “[t]he United States has provided over $12.1 billion in development, economic, health, and security assistance to Southeast Asian allies and partners since 2002, as well as over $1.4 billion in humanitarian assistance.”

Also in May, in Japan, Biden and a dozen Indo-Pacific nations announced a new, loose economic bloc, one that Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has called “by any account the most significant international economic engagement that the United States has ever had in this region.” The bloc includes the U.S., India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, but not Taiwan. These countries represent about 40% of the global economy. 

The new plan promised to streamline supply chains, back clean energy, fight corruption, and expand technology transfers. But with no guaranteed access to U.S. markets, there was uncertainty about how effective the administration’s calls for better labor and environmental standards would be.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken also traveled to the region in early August, making stops in Cambodia, where he attended the U.S.-ASEAN ministerial meeting, the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and the ASEAN Regional Forum, and in the Philippines. Before leaving, he promised to “emphasize the United States’ commitment to ASEAN centrality and successful implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific” and to “address the COVID-19 pandemic, economic cooperation, the fight against climate change, the crisis in Burma, and Russia’s war in Ukraine.” Chinese leaders warned the U.S. there would be “serious consequences” if Pelosi visited, and pundits suggested that she was reckless for going. But both Biden and Blinken made it clear that any potential visit would not mean any change in U.S. policy toward Taiwan, and 26 Republican lawmakers made a public statement praising the visit and noting that it has precedent. 

Pelosi’s visit seemed to echo Biden and Blinken’s focus on world democracy. She championed Taiwan as a leading democracy, “a leader in peace, security and economic dynamism: with an entrepreneurial spirit, culture of innovation and technological prowess that are envies of the world.” She explicitly said her visit was intended to reaffirm “our shared interests [in]...advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific region.” “By traveling to Taiwan, we honor our commitment to democracy: reaffirming that the freedoms of Taiwan—and all democracies—must be respected.” 

When Pelosi’s plane landed, China immediately announced live fire operations nearby and cut certain diplomatic communications with the U.S. But Director of the Centre for Russia Europe Asia Studies Theresa Fallon noted that the Chinese blockade/live fire exercise “is likely to boomerang on Xi. This will…scare just about every other country in Asia,” she wrote on Twitter. Yesterday, U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, six months into the job, did his first television interview. Emphasizing that Pelosi’s visit was in keeping with longstanding history, he said, "We do not believe there should be a crisis in US-China relations over the visit—the peaceful visit—of the Speaker of the House of Representatives to Taiwan...it was a manufactured crisis by the government in Beijing. It was an overreaction.” 

Burns added that it is now "incumbent upon the government here in Beijing to convince the rest of the world that it will act peacefully in the future” and observed that “there's a lot of concern around the world that China has now become an agent of instability in the Taiwan Strait and that's not in anyone's interest."

As drought, coronavirus lockdowns, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine hamstring the Chinese economy, China’s domination of the region seems wobbly. Apple is currently talking to Vietnam about making Apple Watches and MacBooks, moving production away from China. Vietnam already builds Apple products, but these new contracts would upgrade the Vietnamese technical sector in advance of what are expected to be more contracts. 

(note - WHY NOT HAVE THESE MADE IN THE US??????)

This week, the EU and Indonesia launched their first ever joint naval exercise in the Arabian Sea, with an announcement that “[t]he EU and Indonesia are committed to a free, open, inclusive and rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region, underpinned by respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, democracy, rule of law, transparency, freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce, and peaceful resolution of disputes. They reaffirm the primacy of international law, including the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).”The U.S. and Taiwan, which was not included in the earlier economic organization, will start formal trade talks in the fall.

[aliyasharma0401]

Don't Miss Out: The Ultimate Guide to VIT Vellore Management Quota BTech Admission

VIT Vellore is renowned for its exceptional engineering programs, attracting students from all corners of the country. Securing admission through management quota can be a viable option for those seeking to join this prestigious institution. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into everything you need to know about VIT Vellore's Management Quota BTech Admission, brought to you by Trump Career Solution, your trusted education consultancy service.

Understanding VIT Vellore

Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) is a premier engineering institution in India, known for its academic excellence and state-of-the-art infrastructure.

The institution offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs, including BTech courses across various disciplines.

VIT Vellore is recognized for its strong industry connections, innovative teaching methods, and focus on research and development.

What is Management Quota Admission?

Management quota admission is a pathway for students to secure a seat in an institution through direct admission, typically bypassing entrance exams.

It is often based on merit, extracurricular achievements, and sometimes involves a higher fee structure compared to regular admissions.

VIT Vellore offers management quota admissions for select seats in its BTech programs, providing an opportunity for deserving candidates to join the institution.

Benefits of Management Quota Admission at VIT Vellore

Direct admission without the need for entrance exams, simplifying the admission process for eligible candidates.

Opportunity for students with exceptional academic records or notable achievements in extracurricular activities to secure a seat in their preferred branch.

Flexibility in choosing the desired BTech specialization and campus preference within VIT Vellore.

Eligibility Criteria for Management Quota Admission

Candidates must meet the minimum academic requirements specified by VIT Vellore for BTech admissions.

Additional criteria may include performance in relevant entrance exams, if applicable, and meeting the institution's standards for merit-based selection.

Applicants must fulfill any specific requirements outlined by the institution for management quota admissions.

Application Process for Management Quota Admission

Interested candidates should visit the official website of VIT Vellore or contact the admissions office for detailed information regarding management quota admissions.

The application process typically involves submitting relevant documents, such as academic transcripts, certificates, and proof of achievements, as per the institution's guidelines.

Candidates may need to appear for interviews or undergo further evaluation as part of the selection process for management quota admission.

Why Choose Trump Career Solution for VIT Vellore Management Quota Admission?

Trump Career Solution is a trusted education consultancy service with a proven track record of guiding students towards their academic goals.

Our experienced counselors provide personalized assistance to students throughout the admission process, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience.

We offer expert advice, valuable insights, and support to help students secure admission through management quota at VIT Vellore, maximizing their chances of success.

Understanding the Management Quota Seat Allocation Process

VIT Vellore allocates a certain percentage of seats in each BTech program for management quota admissions.

These seats are filled based on a combination of merit, academic performance, extracurricular achievements, and sometimes, personal interviews.

The management quota seat allocation process is conducted in a transparent and fair manner, ensuring equal opportunities for all eligible candidates.

Financial Considerations for Management Quota Admission

It's essential for candidates and their families to consider the financial implications of management quota admission, as it often involves higher tuition fees compared to regular admissions.

Trump Career Solution provides guidance and support to candidates in understanding the fee structure, payment options, and potential scholarship opportunities available at VIT Vellore.

We assist students in making informed decisions regarding their investment in education, ensuring that they receive value for money while pursuing their academic aspirations.

Post-Admission Support and Services

Our commitment to students extends beyond the admission process, as we provide ongoing support and assistance to ensure a fulfilling academic journey at VIT Vellore.

Trump Career Solution offers counseling services, academic guidance, and resources to help students thrive in their chosen BTech program.

We facilitate communication between students, faculty members, and administrative staff, fostering a supportive environment conducive to learning and personal growth.

Success Stories and Testimonials

Hear from past clients and students who have benefited from Trump Career Solution's expertise in securing management quota admission at VIT Vellore.

Discover inspiring success stories of individuals who have realized their dreams of studying at one of India's premier engineering institutions with our assistance.

Testimonials from satisfied clients underscore the effectiveness of our services and reaffirm our commitment to excellence in education consultancy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Explore common queries and concerns that prospective applicants may have regarding management quota admission at VIT Vellore.

Our FAQ section addresses key topics such as eligibility criteria, application deadlines, document requirements, and more, providing clarity and guidance to interested candidates.

Trump Career Solution's knowledgeable team is available to address any additional questions or inquiries that students may have, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the admission process.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Trump Career Solution offers a holistic approach to assisting students in securing management quota admission at VIT Vellore for BTech programs. Our comprehensive services encompass every aspect of the admission process, from initial consultation to post-admission support, ensuring a seamless and rewarding experience for aspiring engineers. 

With our expertise and dedication, students can confidently embark on their academic journey at VIT Vellore, equipped with the knowledge and resources needed to excel in their chosen field. Contact us today to take the first step towards realizing your academic aspirations and unlocking a world of opportunities at VIT Vellore!

[elizabethfreda]

The U.S. policy on Myanmar is all wrong

#peace#Burma

NEW DELHI - U.S. President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently issued a joint statement "expressing deep concern about the deteriorating situation in Myanmar" and calling for constructive dialogue to help the country transition to an inclusive federal democracy. Unfortunately, U.S.-led sanctions undermine this goal and make the situation worse.

Senegal’s elections and Africa’s future RABAH AREZKI thinks what Bassirou Diomaye Faye's presidency could mean for one of Africa's most talked about democracies. Western sanctions, while inflicting pain on ordinary Myanmar citizens, have left the ruling military elite relatively unscathed, leaving the military junta with no incentive to relax political control. The main beneficiary is China, which has been able to expand its foothold in a country it sees as a strategic gateway to the Indian Ocean and a vital source of natural resources. This development has exacerbated regional security challenges. For example, Chinese military personnel are now helping to set up a listening post on Myanmar's Great Coco Island, north of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands where the Indian military's only tri-services command is located. Once operational, the new spy station is likely to assist China in its maritime surveillance of India, including monitoring the movements of nuclear submarines and tracking missile tests that often land in the Bay of Bengal. To some extent, history is repeating itself. Starting in the late 1980s, previous U.S.-led sanctions paved the way for China to become Myanmar's main trading partner and investor. This sanctions regime lasted until 2012, when Obama announced a new US policy and became the first US president to visit Myanmar. In 2015, Myanmar elected its first civilian-led government, ending decades of military dictatorship. However, in February 2021, the military staged a coup and detained civilian leaders including Aung San Suu Kyi, prompting the Biden administration to reimpose sweeping sanctions. Importantly, the reversal of Myanmar's democratic project was precipitated by earlier US targeted measures against the military leadership, including Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing, over human rights abuses against Rohingya Muslims that forced the majority Flee to Bangladesh. After President Trump's administration imposed sanctions on Min Aung Hlaing and other senior commanders in July 2019, the generals lost momentum to maintain Myanmar's democratization. A year and a half later, they overthrew the civilian government after denouncing the results of the November 2020 national election as fraudulent.

The lesson for Western policymakers should be clear. Separate sanctions on foreign officials—an essentially symbolic gesture—could severely hamper U.S. diplomacy and have unintended consequences. (Indeed, China has resisted direct military talks proposed by the Biden administration as a sign that the U.S. The longstanding lack of contact between the United States and Myanmar’s nationalist military—the only functioning institution in a culturally and ethnically diverse society—is a chronic flaw in its Myanmar policy. Because of this limitation, Aung San Suu Kyi achieved near-saint status in the Western imagination, and the highly regarded Nobel Peace Prize winner came after she defended Myanmar's Rohingya policy against genocide charges. The reputation of the award winner plummeted.

With junta leaders under sanctions and civilian leaders in detention, the United States has few tools to influence political developments in Myanmar. Instead, the United States and its allies have tightened sanctions and supported armed resistance to military rule. To this end, the 2023 U.S. National Defense Authorization Act added a provision for Myanmar, authorizing the provision of "non-lethal assistance" to anti-regime armed groups, including the People's Defense Forces. People's Defense Forces This is a nominal army established by the shadow government of national unity. Biden now has considerable scope to help Myanmar's anti-junta insurgency, just as Obama provided "non-lethal assistance" in the form of battlefield support equipment to Ukrainian troops and Syrian rebels.

But such an intervention could plunge Myanmar into greater chaos and poverty without advancing U.S. interests. Even if the different groups behind the armed uprising manage to overthrow the military junta, Myanmar will not become a democracy again. Instead, it will become a Libyan-style failed state and the bane of regional security. It will also continue to become a proxy battlefield between Western powers and China and Russia. A United Nations report estimates that Myanmar has imported at least $1 billion worth of weapons and dual-use items since the coup, mainly from China and Russia.

China's rapid expansion of its footprint in Myanmar is a strategic loss for the United States. It didn't have to be this way. Given Myanmar’s strategic location, the military junta’s aggressive moves could be responded to by gradually easing sanctions and integrating Myanmar into the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy.

Sanctions naturally close the door to dialogue and influence and therefore should never be used as the first tool of foreign policy. After Thailand's army chief seized power in a 2014 coup, the United States wisely eschewed sanctions and opted for engagement, which helped protect Thailand's thriving civil society. This strategy ultimately led to the general's defeat in the recent national election.

Myanmar's return to democracy can only be achieved gradually by engaging the country's military rulers and providing them with incentives to change course. Sanctions without participation have never worked. If Biden can engage closely with China, the world's largest, most powerful, and longest-standing authoritarian state, including sending the CIA director, secretary of state, and secretary of the treasury to Beijing, he should at least open up channels with Myanmar's military junta. communication channels.

Similar to the alliance of military monarchies that have long shaped Thailand's political development, with generals seizing power 12 times in the past nine decades, Myanmar's armed forces have traditionally asserted themselves as the country's most powerful political actor. The 2008 constitution that brought Aung San Suu Kyi to power retains their power, and that much is clear. If the United States does not shift its policy toward gradually engaging with the military junta, Myanmar will remain a playground for major powers with no hope of achieving a new democratic opening.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Lula’s foreign-policy ambitions will be tempered by circumstances

Brazil has changed a lot since he was last in power over a decade ago

“Brazil is back,” declared Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on the evening of October 30th. “Brazil is too great to be relegated to the status of a pariah in the world.” With that, the once and future president conjured up the activist global diplomacy he practised in office between 2003 and 2010. Many outsiders now expect a repeat performance. But since Lula left office the world has changed. Brazil has changed, too.

Under Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil retreated into its shell. His foreign friendships were limited to Donald Trump, Israel and the national-populist regimes in Hungary and Poland, though he also visited Vladimir Putin just before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He sent senior diplomats to stamp passports as consuls or to secondary posts. His first foreign minister, Ernesto Araújo, an amateurish ideologue, echoed Mr Trump in bad-mouthing China, Brazil’s top trade partner. That prompted the Senate to force his removal. Mr Bolsonaro’s enthusiastic assault on the Amazon rainforest in the name of development and sovereignty tarnished Brazil’s reputation as a responsible global citizen.

Lula’s foreign policy was very different. Its cornerstone was the search for a “multipolar” world at a time when the United States was hegemonic. Its main instruments were the brics group (in which Brazil joined Russia, India, China and South Africa) and initiatives in Latin America and Africa, including the Mercosur trade block with Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. “Back then multipolarity seemed reasonably easy to achieve in a quite benign way,” Celso Amorim, who was foreign minister and is now Lula’s chief foreign-policy adviser, told Bello. “Now things are much fuzzier.”

In a world of geopolitical confrontation and war in Europe, Brazil’s traditional balancing act between west and east, south and north, has become harder.

Continue reading.

[palmoilnews]

🌏 Asian stocks saw robust demand from overseas investors in March, marking their best quarter for foreign inflows in over three years, amid prospects of accommodative monetary policies from major central banks and positive Chinese economic indicators. 🇺🇸 The U.S. treasury secretary Janet Yellen confronted her Chinese counterpart about the country’s surging exports of electric vehicles and other green-energy goods. 🇯🇵🇺🇸 The prime minister, Fumio Kishida, is visiting Washington this week as he and President Biden look to build a Trump-proof alliance. 🇮🇱 The Israeli military said it withdrew a division of ground troops from southern Gaza yesterday. The move raised questions about its plans as the war reached the six-month mark — Israeli media reported that the withdrawal meant there were no Israeli troops actively maneuvering in southern Gaza. 🇨🇳 China's foreign exchange reserves rose to $3.246 trillion in March, official data showed on Sunday, even as the U.S. dollar climbed against other major currencies. 🇮🇳 India's foreign exchange reserves rose for a sixth straight week to hit a lifetime high of $645.58 billion as of Mar. 29, data from the central bank showed on Friday. 🇺🇸 Stocks rebounded Friday following the Dow Jones Industrial Average’s worst session in more than a year as traders cheered a stronger-than-expected jobs report and looked past a jump in rates. * Dow 38,904 (+307/+0.8%) * S&P 5,204 (+57/+1.11%) * Nasdaq 16,248 (+199/+1.24%) 🇯🇵 Japan's Nikkei share average tumbled nearly 2% to a three-week low on Friday, logging its worst week since December 2022, as tech shares slid on Wall Street's lead. 🇬🇺 European markets closed lower on Friday as investors wrap up a lackluster first trading week of the new quarter. ⛽️ Oil prices have rallied to five-month highs and are on pace for a weekly gain as tensions boil in the Middle East with Israel closing embassies over threats from Iran. U.S. crude is up 4.5% for the week while the global benchmark has added 4.2%. * Crude oil $86.91 (+0.32/+0.37%) * Brent crude $91.17 (+0.52/+0.57%) 👑 Gold prices climbed to hit a fresh record high, as multiple factors including U.S. interest rate cut bets, speculative buying and central bank purchases kept bullion’s record rally active despite strong U.S. job growth in March. U.S. gold futures settled 1.5% higher to $2,342.7 🌴 FCPO Jun (RM4,345, -55) closed lower on Friday but posted weekly gains, while market participants awaited March inventory data from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB). For the week, however, it gained 3.60%, its best week in three. Malaysia's palm oil inventories are expected to decline 6.65% from the prior month to an eight-month low of 1.79 million tons at the end of March, a Reuters survey showed on Thursday. The MPOB is scheduled to release the data on April 15.

[bllsbailey]

Think Tank's Gray: Second Trump Term Would Scare Adversaries

Alexander Gray (Above photo)

Amid the hand-wringing of foreign-policy experts over former President Donald Trump's reelection campaign, Alexander Gray, senior fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council, argued that a second Trump term would be good for America because it would strike fear into the nation's adversaries again.

The experts, Gray wrote in a Tuesday opinion piece for The Wall Street Journal, "are predictably fretting over Donald Trump's re-election campaign" and "fear that the former president threatens the alliances and partnerships that have sustained global peace since 1945."

"Should Mr. Trump return to the White House, the thinking goes, he will be unconstrained by the guardrails that prevented him from torpedoing America's alliances in his first term and will permanently damage both U.S. security and the international order," Gray wrote.

There's just one problem with that narrative, according to Gray: "The U.S. alliance system didn't crumble during Mr. Trump's first term.

"On the contrary, the Trump administration strengthened relations with partners in the Indo-Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe and the Mideast," he wrote. "Anyone who believes that Mr. Trump was once bound by conventional wisdom but won't be again — and will wreak havoc on the global order he ostensibly detests — hasn't been paying attention."

Gray then recalled what Trump inherited from the Obama administration on his first day in the White House: its "disastrous 'red line' in Syria, its ill-conceived Iranian nuclear deal, its failure to deter or respond adequately to Russia's 2014 aggression against Ukraine."

On top of that, the Obama administration's "toleration of Chinese malign activity in the South and East China seas, and its promise of a 'new model of great-power relations' with Beijing had brought U.S. relations with allies and partners like Japan, Taiwan, Israel, the Gulf Arab states and much of Eastern Europe to a historic low point."

Much of Trump's time in office was spent "repairing those relationships" and finding innovative ways to build them up, he argued.

Many foreign-policy veterans were "appalled" by Trump's methods, believing them to be destabilizing. But Gray pointed out that almost every U.S. administration "has publicly scolded North Atlantic Treaty Organization member countries for shirking their defense-spending commitments."

"Mr. Trump did likewise — and, perhaps unlike his predecessors, was seen as willing to take decisive action to secure change," Gray wrote. "Through public and private cajoling — also known as diplomacy — he secured a commitment from NATO members to beef up their contributions. From 2017 through 2021, nearly every signatory raised defense spending, contributing substantially to the alliance's ability to respond to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022."

Additionally, the Trump administration's "goal of strengthening America's standing in the world bore fruit, including the Abraham Accords between Israel and several Arab states, a significant upgrade to the Quad alliance among the U.S., India, Australia and Japan, stronger diplomatic relations with Taiwan thanks to unprecedented cabinet-level visits and record arms sales, and an unexpected deal between Serbia and Kosovo."

"After three years of press adulation over America's supposed return to the world stage under President [Joe] Biden," Gray asked, what do Americans and the world have to show for it?

"So far, a catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan, the failure of American deterrence in Ukraine, an Iranian nuclear breakout inching ever closer, and an accelerating Chinese threat toward Taiwan," he answered. America's allies around the world have also "begun to chart their own course in the face of an uncertain U.S. trumpet."

Trump's presidency is being "willfully" misrepresented by the "global foreign-policy elite," which is also "scare-mongering about a second" Trump presidency in an effort to sow "needless fear around the world," Gray claimed.

"Should Mr. Trump return to the White House, there will doubtless be sighs of relief among officials in friendly capitals who remember his time in office," he wrote. "It isn't difficult to understand why: Mr. Trump's language may make diplomats uncomfortable, but his actions strike fear among those who matter most to American security: our adversaries."

Nicole Wells ✉

Nicole Wells, a Newsmax general assignment reporter covers news, politics, and culture. She is a National Newspaper Association award-winning journalist.

© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.

[rohansharma2401]

Panchshil Realty

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