Saudi Arabia is well aware that oil won't keep them around in the long run. It's why they've been diversifying, investing into gaming among many other things.
What always confuses me is that it seems people just don't learn from the history. Historically China has never had proper foreign policy. Zero. None. They were good at trade, but in power projection, alliances and others - they have never had them and they have never been good at that. They literally think that everybody that are not part of their "middle kingdom" are barbarians.
Rubio is too good, terrific as the Secretary of State. For the presidential position though he lacks certain element. Not sure what it is exactly but there is certain "appeal" that the president usually has. Like you know something from the "actor". I think he is too direct. But absolutely terrific as an executioner. Like Agrippa.
And even then they are not projecting the power - it is again just their classic merchant-like approach. Ultimately foreign policy is about the export of the politcs. "Fairness", "capitalism", "socialism", "freedom" etc. China has none, nothing they can export that would allow to create "alliances".
I'm not adverse to letting them try. How would they run the pacific sphere? What's their tolerance for pirates, voiding contracts, internal humans right violations?
I think China is dipping their toes into the pool by gradually projecting cultural influence. You can see it with cinema, gaming, etc. Small stakes but good long term investment.
This makes absolutely no sense.
Article: US President Donald Trump says he needs to be personally involved in selecting Iran's next leader, just as he was in Venezuela.
"They are wasting their time. Khamenei's son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy [Rodriguez] in Venezuela," Trump tells Axios in a phone interview, acknowledging reports that Surprme Leader Ali Khamenei's son Mojtaba has been tapped as a likely successor.
"Khamenei's son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran," Trump says.
Trump's comments appear to undercut US claims that the goal of the war in Iran is not regime change, even if it would be a welcome byproduct.
You should be more concerned that a good portion of the US is starting to hate Canada and Europe. The domestic political wins that euro and canadian politicians have been making by attacking the republican party in the US is going to have long term consequences. Most Americans don't care or think about these places, but are now starting to. That is bad news for them.
I'm not talking about this current war. I don't care that Europeans are not joining in, it is probably best if they don't since their cities are in range of Iran's missiles. I'm talking about inserting themselves into US domestic politics. That will be a long term disaster for Europe. Right now most Americans have a favorable opinion of NATO and even most republicans think that the Greenland shit is nuts. If that changes it will be big trouble for all involved.
Whatever. When the US crashes the global economy they will all be too busy trying to work out how to put things back together without the US at the center to care.
corporateeurope.org
No of course not. But all support for NATO will evaporate. If we are not in NATO why not ally with Russia against China? If we are allies with Russia why not sell them F-35s?You think USA will attack Europe?
USA is inserting itself into EU politics from quite some time now:
The Alliance Attacking Freedom - New research exposes US far-right influence ahead of EU Elections | Corporate Europe Observatory
New research from Corporate Europe Observatory researcher and campaigner Kenneth Haar, unveils the link between ultraconservative US foundations and right-wing forces across Europe.
Agreed, most people just meme but there are a select few here who seem to want the US to invade europe for whatever bizzare reason. We're allies, no matter how hard Trump tries to ruffle that fact.
Typically, the world sits back and lets the US do the dirty work before they jump in. The other big countries have the money and good gear too. They just dont want to because they got zero balls.
Or they don't want to partake in war at all, but alliances must be upheld.
The problem is that the chinese reaction - or lack thereof - will also make other countries think twice regarding their support of China too. Though of course it might be possible that it won't change much either. Plus it remains to be seen what is the result of the current military purge in China is going to bring.
The thing with cinema (they don't export that much chinese movies though. Most of them do not even hit the theaters) or gaming is that they do not export the culture much. There own censorship machine prevents from that kind of export. Maybe in the later, but even with their content it is more of a "copy" of the existing things rather than a trend. We might see later but there is no movement like for example with kpop or anime. Maybe on a longer timeline...
CIA is not the monolith though. It is more like a set of organizations or groups. Just like every other institution like the Congress for example with their caucuses.
The CIA works for who?
Do you think americans care? Well democrats do seem to care a lot about what other think of them, but that's their own problem. Almost every other "beloved" group in Europe (like muslims) do not think much what europeans think of them. Not to mention even within Europe the french people don't think much about what polish people think of them and so on.
The funny part is that they are currently trying to join because - just like with people brining in NATO Article 5 from GWOT - they want to talk later about how useful they were (at least they are not like Kuwait shooting down american planes by mistake lol).
Doesn't matter where it is. It's a statement for these women while the western loonies we have to deal with tell them they're wrong.
Of course, but the video lying about the location is a problem. The less BS that's spread the better for everyone.
As a characterisation of the contribution of NATO allies collectively it was correct. Like I said, it was harsh to some individual NATO allies.
I didn't take his statement as a comment on the bravery of any given individual. It was a comment on the manner in which the NATO allies -at the state level- prefer to contribute.
Yeah, 90% of those shots are clearly from Europe and North America. Tehran is being bombed still. No one is out in public celebrating anything.
The plan seems to be to eliminate the ability for Iran to project any power by eliminating their drone program, air defenses, ballistic missile programs, and of course nuclear programs. I don't think there is a plan beyond this. I am not sure that I agree that this is a good idea, but the 12 day war illustrated that Iran is a paper tiger and so they took the chance before they become nuclear.
