Displaying items by tag: Donald Trump

On a visit to the UK, Karol Nawrocki, Poland’s president, has warned that Europe faces an increasingly dangerous security environment and believes only Donald Trump can restrain Russia’s ambitions. He said that Russia could not be trusted and was actively testing both Poland’s defences and Europe’s unity. He pointed to large-scale drone incursions from Belarus and Ukraine as evidence of a sustained hybrid conflict, involving military pressure and disinformation. While expressing concern about tensions within the Western alliance, he argued that Donald Trump remained Europe’s essential security guarantor and deserved support for efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Nawrocki praised Britain’s military assistance and criticised European leaders for neglecting defence readiness. With Poland investing heavily in security, he urged greater focus on resilience, cooperation and unity in what he described as dangerous and uncertain times.

US senators have introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at safeguarding NATO unity amid rising tensions over Greenland. The bill would prevent US government funds from being used to seize, occupy or otherwise assert control over the territory of any NATO member state. This is a response to repeated statements by Donald Trump suggesting that Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark, should come under US control, even by force. Many believe that such rhetoric threatens NATO’s core principle of collective defence and undermines trust among allies. European leaders, particularly in Denmark and Greenland, have firmly rejected any suggestion of US control, emphasising their commitment to NATO, Danish sovereignty and the EU. On 16 January, with the territory’s strategic location and natural resources drawing global attention, Marco Rubio is due to meet the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland in Washington, and a bipartisan group of US lawmakers will be in Denmark for talks. Breaking news: some European troops have gone to Greenland after inconclusive talks with the USA. See

Donald Trump has stepped back, at least temporarily, from threats of US military action against Iran, saying he has been assured that the killing of protesters has stopped and that no executions are planned. He said these assurances came from ‘very important sources on the other side’, though the claims have not been independently verified. Despite reports that over 3,400 have been killed during the recent anti-government protests and fears of imminent executions, Trump said he was unconvinced that military action would bring decisive change. He had been strenuously lobbied by leaders in the Middle East to not to go ahead with strikes which would be certain to lead to an Iranian counterstrike on US bases. Iranian officials have publicly denied plans for executions, and at least one expected execution has been postponed. While rhetoric has softened slightly, deep divisions over human rights abuses and Iran’s nuclear ambitions persist, leaving the situation fragile and unresolved.

Debate over Donald Trump’s apparent interest in taking over Greenland from Denmark has exposed a serious weakness within NATO. While diplomacy may yet prevail, the situation highlights how dependent European allies have become on American military power. Decades of reliance on the USA have left the alliance vulnerable if Washington ever withdraws support or acts independently. The UK illustrates this clearly. Despite presenting itself as Europe’s strongest military force, Britain relies heavily on the United States, particularly through its nuclear partnership and key battlefield 'enablers' such as satellite intelligence, electronic warfare protection and logistics. Successive governments have underinvested in these costly capabilities, assuming American backing would always be guaranteed. This dependence extends across NATO. Many members operate US-built equipment and plan defence around American leadership. Even as allies try to do more, the alliance still assumes a dominant US role. The Greenland debate sharpens a question NATO already faces: what if America is no longer fully on board?

Community tensions in Minneapolis have sharply intensified following a fatal shooting by a US immigration agent amid a major surge in enforcement activity. A 37-year-old US citizen, Renee Nicole Good, was shot and killed during an ICE operation, despite video suggesting she was driving away. Federal authorities claimed she was interfering with law enforcement, a statement strongly disputed by witnesses. The incident comes as hundreds of additional immigration officers have been deployed under the Trump administration, particularly targeting immigrant-heavy neighbourhoods. Advocacy groups report widespread fear, reduced work attendance, and growing economic strain as families avoid leaving their homes. Community networks have mobilised rapidly, training observers, tracking ICE vehicles, and providing legal and practical support to those affected. Local officials have condemned the operation, warning that aggressive enforcement is tearing communities apart and escalating violence. Residents now fear the surge represents a new and dangerous normal for the city.

India’s opposition Congress party has criticised Narendra Modi after renewed US warnings linking higher tariffs on Indian exports to continued purchases of Russian oil. Jairam Ramesh argued that a personality-driven foreign policy has failed to shield India from economic pressure. He said highly publicised displays of personal rapport with US leadership have not prevented repeated threats over trade and energy. Congress claims years of diplomacy have delivered few tangible benefits, leaving India vulnerable to sudden shifts in US policy. The criticism comes as Washington increases pressure on countries buying Russian energy amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. The government insists that purchasing discounted Russian oil is a sovereign decision needed for energy security and compliant with sanctions. While officials highlight strong defence, technology and trade ties with the US, critics warn that overreliance on personal chemistry weakens institutional diplomacy.

Donald Trump’s push to end the war in Ukraine is increasingly shaped by his impatience with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders who he believes are obstructing peace and future US–Russia economic ties. Stating that ‘Russia has the upper hand’ (a claim disputed by experts), he insisted Zelensky must ‘play ball’. Meanwhile, Zelensky and European partners worked to revise the US-led peace proposal, removing provisions which they considered unacceptable and stressing the need for firm security guarantees. Many commentators, alarmed by Trump’s pressure on Kyiv and his favourable posture toward Moscow, warn that conceding to Russia would reward aggression and endanger broader European security. In reply to Trump’s claim that Zelensky is using the war as an excuse to avoid holding elections, Zelensky has offered to do so if security could be guaranteed, although it would mean altering the constitution: see

Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of Europe, portraying the continent as weak’, ‘decaying’, and threatened by immigration. Using inflammatory language, he echoed ‘great replacement’ conspiracy themes, claiming that European countries risk becoming non-viable due to immigration. He insisted European cities such as London and Paris have fundamentally altered, and once again made a personal attack on London’s mayor Sadiq Khan. His remarks followed the recent release of a new US national security strategy warning of Europe’s supposed ‘civilisational erasure’ and signalling support for nationalist parties. European leaders reacted with dismay: Germany’s chancellor Friedrich Merz rejected the idea that Europe needs saving, calling parts of the strategy unacceptable. Pope Leo XIV also cautioned that the shift in US policy risks damaging the long-standing transatlantic alliance, and European Council president António Costa warned Trump not to interfere in Europe’s affairs (see).

Fighting between Thailand and Cambodia has escalated into a third consecutive day of violence, forcing more than half a million civilians to flee their homes. Both governments accuse each other of reigniting the conflict, which has already killed soldiers and civilians and triggered mass evacuations from border provinces. Reports describe rockets landing near hospitals, air raids conducted by Thai F-16 jets, and Cambodian artillery targeting Thai territory, leaving thousands in makeshift shelters with limited supplies. The clashes are the deadliest since five days of fighting in July which killed dozens and displaced some 300,000 people on both sides of the border before a shaky truce was agreed, following an intervention by Donald Trump. Trump said late on Tuesday that he would make a phone call to stop the renewed fighting. Even so, analysts say that the lack of willingness to negotiate suggests the conflict may be prolonged. Latest news - three civilians have been killed inside Thailand: see

A confrontation between federal agents and residents in a Somali neighbourhood of Minneapolis has heightened fear and tension within the community. Witnesses reported that ICE agents used pepper spray to disperse a crowd of protesters after checking identifications in restaurants, on the streets, and at a senior housing complex. The crackdown follows the decision by Donald Trump to end temporary protected status for Somalis, calling them ‘garbage’ and saying he does not want them in the country. The move has drawn denunciations from leaders of the Somali community and governor Tim Walz. About 84,000 of the 260,000 Somalis in the country live in the Minneapolis-St Paul area, the overwhelming majority of them US citizens. Over half were born in the U.S., and 87 per cent of those born elsewhere are naturalised citizens. Federal officials justify the operation as targeting criminals, giving details of nine criminals who have been arrested recently, but local leaders argue that such actions unfairly stigmatise an entire community.