@welt Quick Comparison
• Merz: ~19-21% approval → among the lowest for any major Western leader right now.
• Trump: ~35-40% approval → low for a U.S. president but roughly double Merz’s level.
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@LiamWilsonIII
1.5K posts
@business Alliances are formed based on common interests and mutual benefit. Some European nations apparently believe that the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and the free flow of oil and gas in the Persian Gulf are matters that don’t interest them or provide benefits to them?
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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned European leaders that US President Donald Trump is disappointed with their reluctance to assist with the war in Iran bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
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A new world order is emerging. History has thousands of examples of former enemies forging new relationships based on mutual respect and economic cooperation. Despotism and tyranny will be rejected and millions will gain new freedoms. It’s just beginning, but developing fast.
Mario Nawfal@MarioNawfal
🇦🇪🇮🇱 UAE and Israel went public with their strategic alliance. From quiet cooperation to deep operational partnership, on-the-ground ops and everything. Source: Channel 12
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@Osint613 A new world order is emerging aimed at creating a more stable and secure future. It will be based on pragmatic shared economic prosperity vs failed political ideologies. Millions of previously oppressed people will gain new freedoms. Technology will become increasingly important.
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“The UAE is consciously choosing to deepen the alliance with Israel and expand it to operational partnership on the ground.”
“There is no longer any doubt: this is Israel’s closest Arab partner today.”
- Channel 12 Israel
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@jalle51 It was only a matter of time before the inevitable debt came due for a string of catastrophic strategic blunders. Even Russian historians will likely treat Putin unfavorably, given the massive amount of destruction and death that he caused to the nation that he purports to love.
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Putin has gone from "man of steel" to "worried old man in the basement" - according to Russian experts According to Aleksandr Baunov (Carnegie), Putin's halo has been shattered. The self-confident warrior has become a stressed, paranoid uncle whom Russians see as a burden. Russians in Samara are already openly saying: "Go down to the basement yourself, Mr. Commander-in-Chief - the one with the rats and leaks." While Ukraine's drones fly around like irritated wasps and the May 9 victory parade becomes a scaled-down shadow version (so as not to be droned), Putin sits and looks... confused. Baunov sums it up beautifully: "He is no longer the man of steel. He is a worried old man who no longer inspires confidence." The war was supposed to be over in three days. Now it is Putin who is hiding from drones and the Internet. The irony is perfect: Whoever started a "special military mission" to protect Russia has made the country more vulnerable than it has been in decades. Soon he might be giving a speech from a bunker. With a blanket and hot chocolate.
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@JohannaNyman5 Taking recent relations/interactions at face value, most would conclude the same. The truth may well be much more profound. The US wants and needs strong, capable and reliable allies. It doesn’t need or want weak and indecisive bureaucrats as allies. How else to effect change?
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Kaja Kallas: US wants to divide Europe using tactics used by the EU’s adversaries.
“What I think is actually important for everybody to understand is that the US has been very clear that they want to divide Europe. They don’t like the European Union.”
Every day confirms Washington’s growing hostility toward Europe.
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@Mylovanov The reality is that the Russians trust the Iranians even less than they trust the Chinese. These are relationships of convenience with limited shelf life. The current partnerships are transactional and both sides know that all too well.
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Putin: Iran courageously and heroically fights for its independence and sovereignty. We hope that, relying on this courage, the Iranian people will, under the leadership of a new leader, pass this difficult period and peace will come. 1/
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@Osint613 It doesn’t require belief, it’s a fact. Past German politicians took numerous catastrophic decisions regarding Germany’s national energy policies. There’s no time like the present to put things back on track.
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Ursula von der Leyen:
"Looking back, I believe it was a strategic mistake for Germany to abandon nuclear energy. If we are serious about climate, gas and coal are far worse than nuclear."
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@DakdaR22 Interesting perspective, but one that is likely shared by very few Americans. Trump provokes, criticizes and publicly shames the European bureaucracy because the US wants strong European allies, both economically and militarily. It seems to be effective in getting their attention
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- Kaja Kallas:
"Washington is not trying to manage Europe. It is trying to dissolve it.
They do not like the European Union,...
The tactics, resemble those used by the EU's adversaries..
The answer is not bilateral deals with Trump. It is unity. Because when Europe stands together, it is an equal power. And that is exactly what Washington cannot stand."
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@WSJ The WSJ is a highly respected and reputable news outlet. Nonetheless, it’s hardly news to point out the obvious. Resp.
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The war against Iran has featured the biggest display of American firepower in decades. It is a display China, Russia and North Korea have been watching closely. on.wsj.com/4w6dSMv
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@biancoresearch Excellent analysis and outline of potential scenarios. US and Israeli military experts have had enough time to determine and plan what’s required for safe “escorts”. They also closely monitor the situation 24/7 and have excellent intelligence. Grounds for optimism? Let’s hope so.
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Big news from Trump about 20 minutes ago (and ~90 minutes before the market reopens on Sunday night in Asia):
The US will start Naval Escorts called "Operation Protect Freedom" tomorrow!
As I noted in the repost below (from Friday), the US was "stuck" until the circumstances changed. It now seems they are about to change tomorrow!
Some possible outcomes (hoping for #1 or #2, fearing #3 and #4)
1. US escorts ships out, Iran does nothing, this is over
2. US escorts ships out, Iran fires on ships that the US can repel, this is over
3. US escorts ships out, Iran fires on ships and hits them, or they hit a mine. The image of burning ships is a disaster for the Navy and the US, especially if it's a US warship.
4. The US keeps threatening to do this, but the Navy never actually does it (akin to them not firing on the 40 or so fast boats in the Strait today when Trump said they would a several days ago). The US can be criticized for talking a big game with little action.
Jim Bianco@biancoresearch
The bottom line is the Iran War is "stuck." No War (shooting) No Peace No Shipping No Crude Oil, LNG, Fertilizer, and/or Helium And it will stay "stuck" until circumstances change. The most likely change ... * The US/Israel restart kinetic attacks with the goal of forcing the Iranians to their position * The Iranians hold the stalemate long enough to drive up crude oil prices to intolerable levels for the developed world to get the US/Israelis to accept their positions. I guess a third option is that the blockade imposes unbearable economic pain on the Iranians to force them to accept the US positions. I say "guess" because the thinking now is this might take a long time, which plays into the Iranian point above about holding the stalemate to drive up crude oil prices to intolerable levels. As we are starting to understand, the Iranian regime has a high tolerance for economic pain, and the larger population cannot overthrow them. So, the maximum pain point, the so-called "tank top" of their crude oil storage facilities getting full, might be several weeks away.
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@Osint613 A new world order is rapidly emerging. Nations such as Germany can and should play a key role in developing that new order. That requires intelligent and effective leadership that goes far beyond damage control on a weekly talk show. Respectfully.
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Germany's Chancellor Merz on U.S. troop withdrawal:
It may be a bit exaggerated, but it’s nothing new. The Americans remain our most important partners in the North Atlantic alliance.
I will not give up on cooperation with Donald Trump. If you want us to help in such a conflict, then call us beforehand
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@Reuters President Lai Ching-te has demonstrated exceptional courage, determination and leadership in the face of incessant threats and intimidation from his Goliath neighbor. The entire world has taken notice and admires him.
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Taiwan has a right to engage with the world and no country can stop that, President Lai Ching-te told Eswatini's king after he arrived for a surprise trip that Taipei says Beijing tried to stop, as China called him a 'rat' reut.rs/4ukZ8HO
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@GermanyDiplo @araghchi @SecRubio @AussenMinDE Without the will and means to achieve a “negotiated solution” with an authoritarian theocracy that is fundamentally hellbent on spreading terror and violence, this is nothing but empty rhetoric. Respectfully.
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In my call with @araghchi, I emphasized: #Germany supports a negotiated solution. As a close ally of the #US, we share the same goal: #Iran must completely & verifiably renounce nuclear weapons & immediately open the Strait of #Hormuz, as also demanded by @SecRubio. @AussenMinDE
Johann Wadephul@AussenMinDE
Im Telefonat mit @araghchi habe ich unterstrichen: 🇩🇪 unterstützt eine Verhandlungslösung. Als enger US-Verbündeter teilen wir das gleiche Ziel: Iran muss vollständig & nachprüfbar auf Kernwaffen verzichten & die Straße von Hormus sofort freigeben, wie es auch @SecRubio fordert.
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@AussenMinDE @araghchi @SecRubio It goes without saying that a “negotiated solution” is preferable, however, achieving and implementing that is an entirely different matter given that Iran is ruled by an authoritarian theocracy that prioritizes ideological control and regime survival over peace and stability.
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Wir sollten eigene europäische militärische Stärke aufbauen und solange wir die nicht haben, den Affront mit Trump vermeiden. Was wir nicht machen sollten, ist, eigene europäische militärische Handlungsfähigkeit nicht aufzubauen und den Affront mit Trump herbeizusehnen.
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@nicolange_ America’s perceptions of “threats” have changed dramatically under the Trump administration. Risk assessments related to nuclear conflict due to increased instability and the PRC’s massive militarization have also changed. A new world order is evolving. History in the making.
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Die USA können jederzeit entscheiden, wo sie welche Truppen stationieren - wir haben da keine Anrechte oder sowas. Dass die konventionelle Abschreckungslücke mit den geplanten Tomahawks nicht geschlossen wird, muss zu Schnellverfahren für europäische Long Range Fires führen.
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@FalkTG The Soviet occupation of the “Zone” was certainly horrific, compared to the “Amis”. Adjustments are needed to the US military presence in Europe and it is only normal that European nations now assume more responsibility for their own security and defense. 🇩🇪🇪🇺🇺🇸
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A sad day for Germany 🇩🇪.
5.000 US 🇺🇸 troops will leave my country.
They defended us for 7 decades and they never misused their power (unlike the Soviets). They acted disciplined and friendly. They taught us a lot. The U.S. is like a big brother for Germany.
But the U.S. administration is right: Germany can stand on its own feed nowadays. The U.S. needs its resources to deter China 🇨🇳. And one day, when we Europeans are strong enough we will do so as well.
Thank you American soldiers for your service for liberty and peace in Europe.
🇩🇪 🇺🇸🇪🇺
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@Strandjunker The US, Germany and the NATO alliance all benefit from US bases in Germany. Inversely, they will all be weakened by a diminished and less effective US presence. Emotions drive much of the rhetoric and many of the decisions now due to the ongoing wars. Cooler heads will prevail.
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US troops are not in Germany to protect Germany. They’re there because the US needs bases to conduct operations beyond the North American continent. If Trump withdraws them, he will harm the United States, not Germany.
It’s absurd how many Americans fail to grasp this.
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@DakdaR22 Putin will ultimately fail and end up in trash bin of history with many other failed despots. He’s a horrible strategist and has lost the respect and confidence from many of his own compatriots. A truly wicked and depraved figure who has set Russia back decades.
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"We cannot afford fatigue. Ukraine is fighting for its survival, while we are sometimes debating costs. For Ukrainians, the price is measured in lives.”
- Kaja Kallas
Sad and true...
Don't stop supporting Ukraine, they need our help 🫂🇺🇦❤️
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