#America
Trump’s Middle East policy and diminishing of US global leadership
The re-election of Donald Trump and his subsequent choices of individuals to sit on key positions in his administration signal a grim forecast for peace in the Israel-Palestine conflict and the United States' relations with the Muslim world. Since regaining office, President Trump has surrounded himself with staunchly pro-Israel hardliners who openly oppose efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza and advocate for policies that support Israeli annexation of the West Bank.
Panama Canal and Trump's strategic outburst
The construction of the 82-kilometer Panama Canal, which connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, was initiated by the King of Spain in the 16th century, but later realized by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. It has been a major driver of global trade progress. Based on the 1977 agreement between the United States and Panama, full control of the canal was handed over to Panama in 1999. However, Donald Trump recently threatened to take back control of the canal, citing high transit tariffs and increasing China’s influence in the region, which he considers unfair and potentially disruptive to global geopolitical balance.