South County Mail

Missouri and the World

US foreign policy

Trump comments fuel fresh debate over possible US action against Cuba

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New criminal charges filed in the United States against Cuba’s former leader Raúl Castro have triggered renewed speculation about whether the Trump administration could eventually pursue more aggressive action toward the island nation.

According to analysis published by The Conversation, US prosecutors have charged the 94-year-old Castro with conspiracy to kill US nationals, murder and destruction of aircraft linked to the 1996 downing of two planes operated by a Miami-based exile group.

The case relates to an incident in which four men died after Cuban fighter jets shot down the aircraft. [Read more…] about Trump comments fuel fresh debate over possible US action against Cuba

Trump’s China diplomacy could weaken Russia’s influence

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The summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese president Xi Jinping last week was closely watched around the world, particularly in Moscow, where Russian president Vladimir Putin may have seen signs that improving relations between Washington and Beijing could gradually reduce Russia’s global influence.

While the meeting focused publicly on trade, technology, Iran and Taiwan, the broader geopolitical significance may lie in the possibility that the United States and China are attempting to stabilize one of the world’s most important relationships after years of growing tension.

For Russia, that could create new challenges. [Read more…] about Trump’s China diplomacy could weaken Russia’s influence

Iran conflict is exposing tensions between America and its Gulf allies

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The ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran is exposing growing tensions between Washington and some of its longtime Gulf allies, as regional governments face increasing security risks tied to the presence of American military bases.

That argument is at the center of a new interview published by Analyst News featuring Khaled Abou El Fadl, a professor at the UCLA School of Law specializing in human rights and Islamic law.

In the interview, El Fadl argued that Gulf states built their security strategies around reliance on the United States, but are now facing the consequences as Iranian retaliation increasingly targets American military facilities across the region. [Read more…] about Iran conflict is exposing tensions between America and its Gulf allies

Trump may have removed Maduro – but Venezuela’s future is still unclear

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Four months after US forces captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and removed him from power, Venezuela remains caught between economic reform, political uncertainty and unresolved questions about democracy.

A new analysis published by The Conversation argues that while the country is beginning to reverse years of socialist economic policies, many of the structures that supported Maduro’s government remain firmly in place.

Following Maduro’s capture by US forces in January, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assumed leadership of the country and has begun implementing economic reforms with support from the Trump administration. [Read more…] about Trump may have removed Maduro – but Venezuela’s future is still unclear

Trump’s support in Europe may be weaker than it looks

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US President Donald Trump may still enjoy strong support among some European conservative movements, but political tensions in Italy suggest that backing for Trump-style politics across Europe could be more fragile than it appears.

A new analysis published by The Conversation argues that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has begun distancing herself from Trump after initially building close ties with his political movement.

Meloni, leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy party, spent years cultivating relationships with American conservatives and became closely associated with Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement. [Read more…] about Trump’s support in Europe may be weaker than it looks

Can Brazil become America’s most important partner in South America?

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Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva traveled to Washington last week for a closely watched meeting with US President Donald Trump, as both countries attempt to stabilize a relationship shaped increasingly by trade, strategic minerals, organized crime and growing geopolitical competition in Latin America.

The private talks at the White House lasted about three hours on May 7, although neither side issued a formal joint statement afterward.

Despite political differences between the two leaders, the meeting highlighted what analysts increasingly see as a pragmatic shift in US-Brazil relations, driven less by ideology and more by economic and strategic interests. [Read more…] about Can Brazil become America’s most important partner in South America?