It may gradually slide down the road to a more neutralist position in the years ahead – to paraphrase William Hague “In NATO, but not run by NATO.”
The President’s instincts on Ireland and his approach to trade pull in different political directions.
Universities need heavier scrutiny. Owners must be identified. Media backed by regimes that restrict freedom should be denied broadcast licenses.
The US and UK are keen to prioritise the green agenda, but can’t afford to ignore the challenge posed by illiberal regimes.
Plus: I’ve been around the political lobbying world for 30 years, but the Greensill scandal has genuinely floored me.
A traffic light coalition? A Jamaica coalition? Who knows? What’s certain is that the CDU/CSU is struggling amidst a fragmenting landscape.
The President’s address was tougher on Russia, but far from radical. If anything, it risked being disappointingly tame.
It allows for criticism and negotiation provided the West stands together to call out abuses.
The prominence of Russians in the UK means that the UK can play an outside role in making the migraine even worse.
It would take a political genius of Mount Rushmore proportions to restore civic peace to America and Biden, for all his good qualities, isn’t one.
The fundamental premise of Trumpism, namely that globalisation is bad for ordinary people, is false.
Tensions have been building for the best part of a year, serious skirmishes broke out in June – and America is nowhere to be seen.
From working with Lithuania to enable gas pipelines, to relaxing visas for Belarusians, there’s much we can do to put pressure on Lukashenko’s regime.
Plus: Russia’s opposition leader was poisoned, so now slap Magnitsky sanctions on Putin. And: Phil Collins’ ungracious departure.
We could give in to the leftist, isolationist Little England vision of a reclusive UK. Alternatively, we could make Global Britain a reality.