Locator: 48573GAZA.
Ukraine: absolutely mesmerizing.
- US - Russia bilateral talks, hosted by Saudi Arabia.
- Putin knows that Trump has a 100-day self-imposed deadline
- JD Vance announced (Trump confirmed), the borders will never go back to what they were and Ukraine won't be part of NATO -- those are non-starters for Russia
- Ukraine says it will not agree to any agreement if it -- Ukraine -- is not part of the process.
- let's see how that works out
- Britain ready to put boots on the ground
- the EU is apoplectic
- NATO is confused
- after all these years where NATO / Europe / EU said "no way"would Ukraine be admitted to NATO, now those same alliances are putting that option back on the table.
- after all those years where Europe / EU were under-funding Ukraine and letting the US pay for the war, all of a sudden the Brits and Europe / EU are looking for ways to fund Zelenskyy
- it will be interesting to see how fast the US money dries up
- I would assume, Zelenskyy has 30 days worth of cash; what happens when he can no longer pay his soldiers? Germany doesn't have much money to help pay for the war.
Keeping one eye's on the ball. Trump has clearly indicated:
- China-Taiwan: Taiwan does not belong to Xi's China;
- Iran is the number one terrorist nation in the world; take care of Iran and much else falls into place.
- keep Iran on edge
- sanctions on Iran: economic warfare
- hold US-Russian talks on Ukraine in Saudi Arabia
- US-Russia-Saudi Arabia: further isolates China and Iran
- North Korea: at some point, North Korea will be back in the news, but for Trump, NK is a side-show.
- Europe / EU needs to step up to the plate. That's why Ukraine and EU are not at the table.
- EU is clearly closer to China than the US on the geopolitical continuum -- and Trump knows that.
- no one really wants to admit it, but it certainly appears Trump loathes Europe on so many levels
- An improved relationship between China - Russia is not in America's interests.
- Economically, China is the US number one concern; right now, China is the big loser.
- sanctions on Iran:
- all about Chinese cozying up to Iran for oil
- Trump wants that "union" vote -- appoints union support to Department of Labor, and places huge tariffs on auto makers in Canada and Mexico; really, really favors Detroit.
Deal-Making: Trump looking to transform world geo-politics.
- Trump can't do it alone;
- needs either China or Russia;
- Trump knows Putin better than Xi
- Putin, right now, the active "shooter"
- Putin is overtly messing with Europe, EU
- China has huge influence worldwide but not so much in Europe
- opportunity to split growing relationship between China-Russia
- China probably not looking favorably on US-Russia sitting "alone" / bargaining in Saudi Arabia
- it's even worse for Europe / UK / EU
- EU has never looked so vulnerable
- Trump will make NATO nations increase their contribution to the alliancd
- it's all a continuation of his first administration but in less than 100 days, he's already much farther along
Deal-Making: Trump looking to change borders:
- the Mideast: Israel / Gaza's border
- it certainly appears Trump has taken the "2-state solution" off the table (others said that before me)
- Europe: Ukraine / Russia border
- Pyrrhic victory for Putin
- but provides opportunity for Trump / Putin to work together in the Mideast to block China
- China-Taiwan
- Trump has upped the ante incredibly; clearly states that Taiwan does not belong to Xi's China
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Regions
Gaza: all of a sudden, "everyone" wants a piece of Gaza; they just don't want the Egyptians who live there.
Ukraine: all of a sudden, the Brits are suggesting they will put boots on ground in Ukraine; daring the EU to do likewise. All of a sudden Ukraine is really, really important to the Brits (and most likely to the EU).
Mexico: "coyotes" are now offering to bring "human trafficking" in over the northern border, from Canada.
China: upset that the US has removed key phrase from China-Taiwan relationship; apparently changing the whole dynamic with removing a dozen words or so.
Greenland: all of a sudden folks asking why Denmark claims Greenland; France says it will deploy troops -- boots on the ground -- to defend against hostile takeover by the US.
Panama: all of a sudden, the US wants what is theirs back.
Canada: looking more and more like the 51st state. Where does that put Puerto Rico?
Taiwan: stole America's computer chips.
Israel: all of a sudden seeing "green lights," as in "go, do what's best for your country!"
Africa: the only "place" -- in this case, an entire continente -- along with South Pacific islands -- being completely ignored.
