Latest news with #AmericaGreatAgain
NDTV
5 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
The Latest G7 Was A Disaster, Thanks To Trump
As expected, the G7 summit in Kananaskis in Canada proved somewhat of a disaster for the group. With the deep differences between the US and the other six members from Trump's first term getting accentuated after his re-election, the prognostics for this summit were, in any case, not good. The European leaders were openly against Trump's re-election. This lack of empathy between him and the other six members was bound to affect the solidarity of the G7 at Kananaskis. This solidarity had actually got reinforced on the security front under the Biden administration by the overwhelming hostility of the G7 countries towards Russia over the Ukraine conflict. With Trump disowning Biden's Russia policy, spurning President Volodymyr Zelensky and initiating a dialogue with Russia to end the war and explore the possibility of normalising ties with Moscow, the rift with Europe has become deeper, with the latter remaining bent on supporting Ukraine with arms and funds to counter Russia. The Growing Rift Other than this fundamental security issue in the eyes of Europe, Trump's use of tariffs as a weapon against other members of the G7 totally contrary to World Trade Organization (WTO) provisions, has deeply soured US ties with them. The original objective of the G7 was to promote financial and economic stability at the global level. We now see that the US seeks to disrupt this objective by US-centric policies premised on the belief that the country has been the victim of unfair trade practices and that its economy has been hollowed out because its partners have not shared equally security burdens at the global level. The slogan 'Make America Great Again' is at the cost of US allies, too. The US and the other G7 members are, therefore, not on the same page on strategic political, economic and security issues. The G7's raison d'être is being undermined by the US under Trump. The Tensions With Canada Adding to all this is Trump's contemptuous attitude towards Canada, the host of the G7 meeting. The new Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has been combative and has sought to hit back at the US on tariffs and other economic measures. This did not necessarily provide a more conducive setting for the G7 summit. However, as host - and in order to save the summit - Carney tried to ingratiate himself to Trump, flattering him by saying publicly that "The G7 is nothing without U.S. leadership, your personal leadership". This, however, did not work. Trump snubbed the G7 by departing early because of some momentous decision he had to make - presumably on Iran- and dispensing with planned bilateral meetings, including with President Zelensky. The meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi also could not take place (The chance to clear the air personally after many loose statements by Trump on his role in bringing about a ceasefire between India and Pakistan and his desire to mediate on Kashmir was missed. India, therefore, decided to make a statement publicly countering Trump's false narratives on his role and firmly reject any mediatory role by him). A Short, Thin Statement Given all these differences, the other six members had come to terms with the fact that it would not be possible to issue a joint communique, and that a Chair's summary would be issued instead. If the expectation was that the Chair's summary would spell out robustly the united position of six members on issues over which the US differed, it has been belied. It was probably thought that it was not advisable to isolate the US in this manner. The Chair's summary is short and terse. It contrasts dramatically with the inordinately lengthy communique; of last year's G7 summit in Italy, which had a total of about 240 paragraphs and sub-paragraphs, with 18 on Ukraine, 10 on Gaza, four each on Iran and Africa, 14 on Sustainable Development Goals, 16 on the Indo-Pacific, nine on China, 26 on energy and climate change, 10 on the global economy and finance, eight on trade, 14 on economic resilience and economic security, and nine on health. The Chair's summary at Kananaskis, in contrast, has only 14 paragraphs. This shows how much the ambit and substance of this G7 summit got reduced due to the Trump factor. The Chair's summary lists issues of concern, such as the need for greater economic and financial stability, technological innovation, an open and predictable trading regime, energy security and the digital transition underpinned by secure and responsible critical mineral supply chains, and more collaboration within and beyond the G7. With China in mind, the G7 leaders have undertaken to safeguard their economies from unfair non-market policies and practices that distort markets and drive overcapacity. This would include de-risking through diversification and reduction of critical dependencies. The new Canada-led G7 initiative - the Critical Minerals Production Alliance - is mentioned. This would aim at working with trusted international partners to guarantee supply for advanced manufacturing and defence. In the single paragraph on Ukraine, the G7 leaders have accommodated Trump by expressing support for his efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in the country. This is a remarkable turnabout because Europe is, in fact, deeply opposed to Trump's peace efforts, which exclude it. Zelensky has been thrown a crumb by recognising that Ukraine is committed to an unconditional ceasefire to which Russia must agree, adding that the G7 Leaders are resolute in exploring all options to maximise pressure on Russia, including financial sanctions. Nothing On Middle East, Divisions Over China The para on the Middle East is devoid of any real substance, with the G7 leaders reiterating the importance of unhindered humanitarian aid to Gaza, the release of all hostages, an immediate and permanent ceasefire, and the need for a negotiated political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that achieves lasting peace (no mention of a two-state solution). The leaders exchanged views on "the active conflict between Israel and Iran", affirming Israel's right to defend itself, and were clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. The G7 released a statement on recent developments between Israel and Iran, which essentially reiterates these bare points. On China, Trump and the six others are not entirely on the same page, but some concerns are shared. The G7 leaders, while stressing the importance of constructive and stable relations with China, have called on it to refrain from market distortions and harmful overcapacity. They discussed their ongoing serious concerns about China's destabilising activities in the East and South China Seas and the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The leaders acknowledged the links between crisis theatres in Ukraine, the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific. What these links are is not clear. The Irony With 'Foreign Interference' According to the Chair's summary, the G7 leaders condemned foreign interference, underlining the unacceptable threat of transnational repression to rights and freedoms, national security and state sovereignty. The irony is that foreign interference and threats to national security and state sovereignty primarily emanate from the G7 countries themselves, as we experience in India ourselves. With Trump having walked out of the Paris Climate Change agreement, it is not surprising that the only indirect reference to climate change is the discussion by the G7 on the impact of increasingly extreme weather events around the world. On the G7 meeting with invited leaders, including India, the focus was on ways to collaborate on energy security, just energy transitions as well as sustainable and innovative solutions to boost energy access and affordability, mitigating the impact on climate and the environment, technology and innovation, diversifying and strengthening critical mineral supply chains, building infrastructure, and mobilising investment. The G7 leaders have agreed to collaborate with partners on concrete outcomes, to which end they agreed to six joint statements, including securing high-standard critical mineral supply chains, driving secure, responsible and trustworthy AI adoption, boosting cooperation on quantum technology, etc. India is already engaged in discussions in all these areas with most of the G7 members. PM Modi's Interventions: Energy And Terrorism At the summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made two interventions. He spoke of India's energy security plans and ambitions, noting that at present, renewable energy accounts for about 50% of our total installed capacity. He also mentioned India's launch of global initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, Mission LiFE, Global Biofuels Alliance, One Sun One World One Grid. India, he said, considered it its responsibility to bring the priorities and concerns of the Global South to the world stage. Not surprisingly, the Prime Minister drew the attention of G7 leaders to the grave issue of terrorism bluntly and forcefully. He recalled the Pahalgam attack and spoke of India's neighbourhood becoming a breeding ground of terrorism. He reminded the leaders that there must be no place for double standards when it came to terrorism, and that any country that supported terrorism must be held accountable. He regretted that the reality was quite the opposite. He challenged the G7 leaders when he said: "On the one hand, we are quick to impose various sanctions based on our own preferences and interests. On the other hand, nations that openly support terrorism continue to be rewarded. I have some serious questions for those present in this room". In his second intervention, Prime Minister Modi spoke about technology, AI, and energy. For AI's energy needs, India, he said, was focusing on solar energy and small modular reactors. He pointed out that AI models developed and tested against the benchmark of India's diversity will hold immense relevance and utility for the entire world. The G7 summit provided him with an opportunity to meet the Canadian Prime Minister bilaterally and discuss the state of India-Canada relations and the way ahead. The two leaders agreed to take calibrated and constructive steps to restore stability in the relationship, beginning with the early return of High Commissioners to each other's capitals, restarting senior ministerial as well as working-level engagements across various domains, and exploring opportunities for future collaboration in various areas. The importance of restarting the stalled negotiations on the Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA) was flagged. Although the G7 summit was a bit of a damp squib because of internal cracks within the group between the US and others, the invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, despite serious bilateral differences with Canada, was a continued recognition of India's mounting global geopolitical and economic importance.
LeMonde
6 days ago
- Politics
- LeMonde
The Heritage Foundation sets its sights on Europe
Behind the thick velvet curtains of the Cercle de l'Union Interalliée, a lavish Parisian club on Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré, a high-profile political reception was taking place, just a stone's throw from the Elysée presidential palace. Ties were mandatory for the guests who, on the evening of May 26, gathered to soak up "the future of conservatism in France and in the West," as promised by the invitation card. The host was an American, unknown to the French public, who holds a piece of the United States' destiny in his hands. Kevin Roberts presides over the powerful Heritage Foundation, the most influential conservative think tank in the orbit of Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) movement. It paved the way for Donald Trump's return to power by providing him with the highly radical Project 2025, the unofficial blueprint for his term in office. Bald, wearing a pin of Heritage's Liberty Bell-inspired logo on his jacket, Roberts, 50, displayed the articulateness of a university professor. Born in southern Louisiana, he has been one of the most zealous ideologues of Trump's second presidency, determined to "burn" everything – he has a penchant for radical metaphors – in order to reshape America into a nationalist and reactionary version of itself. Since 2021, he has led the Heritage Foundation and its 350 employees. The historian by training earns nearly $1 million a year in this role. He is a regular at Mar-a-Lago, Trump's residence, and has developed a genuine friendship with JD Vance, the 40-year-old nationalist-Catholic vice president, who is idolized by the far right on both sides of the Atlantic. Roberts is above all one of the unofficial envoys for a major objective of Trump's second term: weaving a network with "civilizational allies in Europe," as the US State Department put it in a strategic memo published on May 27. The document mentions the Trump team's intent to promote their vision of a "shared cultural heritage," stretching from Paris to Warsaw. At the end of May, Roberts traveled to France for the first time, with that very goal in mind.
Hindustan Times
21-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Trump's policy curbs: New innovation order and India's strategic rise
The flows of globalisation were once imagined catalysing a new world order based on leveraging trade, talents and innovation. However, what is now being witnessed under the second term of President Donald Trump in the US is a reversal of such flows. While the US seeks to Make America Great Again, a reduced role of the world's most powerful actor in pushing such flows not just create a vacuum for other actors in the international system, but also lead the system to suffer several strains. Policies under Trump 2.0, in the form of tariffs and visa restrictions, as well intended as they may be for America's safeguarding of its sovereignty and prowess, are disrupting traditional economic and talent flows. Iran Israel War Live Updates: President Donald Trump said Iran should have signed a deal with the United States. (AFP) Extremely high tariffs, such as the proposed 100% duties on BRICS countries, aim to reshore manufacturing to the US, but they also risk increasing costs, while companies are pushed to seek alternatives outside China. How well this pans out for the US as well as other economies is something that is to be watched out for. Restrictions on H1-B visas and optional training programs, similarly, limit access to global talent, potentially creating skill gaps in US tech sectors. While it is the sovereign right for the US to decide what role it wants to play in the existing world order, other countries need to look out for themselves and turn adversities into opportunities. Disruptions to innovations in the US have been driving innovation to other hubs, as companies and talents seek environments with fewer restrictions and lower costs. Countries like India, Germany and Canada have been emerging as alternative hubs. In fact, the US's tightened visa policies have already led to a 15% rise in Indian student applications to Canadian Universities and increased interest in Germany's no-tuition public universities. In June this year, speaking in New Delhi, German ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann stated that there are already 50,000 Indian students in Germany and the country is keen to welcome more. Meanwhile, US tech giants, which have been reliant on foreign talent, could face labour shortages, prompting companies to expand research and development centres abroad, particularly in India, where local talent, owing to the positive demographic dividend that India has; is abundant and costs are competitive. What this sort of decentralisation of innovation could lead to is a reduction of the US's dominance in tech, and could create a more multipolar innovation landscape. India, in fact is uniquely positioned to capitalise on these shifts owing to its robust IT sector, growing manufacturing capabilities and strategic alignment with US interests, particularly in countering China's influence. The push under Trump 2.0 to reduce reliance on Chinese tech firms, aligns with India's own efforts to limit Chinese influence in cybersecurity and telecommunications. As US forms diversify away from China, India is positioned as a prime destination for investment in semiconductors, 5G and AI. Indian tech giants such as Infosys, Wipro and TCS, could see increased demands as US companies expand operations in India. Additionally, restrictive H1-B policies may drive Indian tech professionals to build domestic startups, and help India in reducing brain drain, while further fostering India's own Silicon Valleys. In any case, US companies, seeking alternatives to Chinese manufacturing have been increasingly turning to India, particularly in auto components, pharmaceuticals and chemicals for example. In the realm of education and talent development, India can capitalise on the opportunity created by visa restrictions in the US, by expanding its own higher education system. Joint degree programmes with US institutions, potentially ties to Fulbright-Nehru scholarships can go a long way in attracting talents and fostering innovative ecosystems. The process has already started, as foreign Universities, are increasingly establishing a presence in India, driven by the National Education Policy (NEP), and the University Grants Commission regulations of 2023. Top global Universities, that are ranked in the top 500 globally or in specific subjects are to set up branch campuses, and to collaborate with Indian institutions. The path ahead for India however has challenges as well, and India has to navigate potential trade wars and further visa restrictions that can strain its $ 254 billion tech sector, which relies heavily on the US market. Diplomatic statecraft will be more crucial than ever to maintain strong bilateral ties, particularly given Trump's transactional approach. Preparing itself through further investments in education and tech is a necessity for India to navigate these challenges. Trump 2.0's restrictive policies, while immensely challenging should also be seen as a catalyst for global innovation, with India poised to emerge as a leading actor. Leveraging its tech prowess, manufacturing potential and through educational reforms, India can envisage turning these curbs into opportunities which will strengthen its economic and strategic standing. This article is authored by Sriparna Pathak, professor, China Studies and International Relations, Jindal School of International Affairs, OP Jindal Global University, Sonipat.
Yomiuri Shimbun
14-06-2025
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Canon Head Fujio Mitarai Calls for Japan to Take Lead in Creating New Economic Bloc
The Yomiuri Shimbun Fujio Mitarai Fujio Mitarai, chairman and chief executive officer of Canon Inc., called for Japan to promote efforts to create a new economic bloc, during a recent interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun. The following is excerpted from the interview conducted by Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer Miyabi Endo. *** Following the end of World War II, the United States was the only country economically prosperous enough to produce quality consumer products. Led by such a country, the postwar free trade zone expanded. But in the half century that followed, trade friction arose between the United States and other countries that had grown rich, especially in manufacturing. The United States took the initiative in establishing the World Trade Organization to create fair trade rules, but [economic] disparities within the United States widened, resulting in the emergence of the Rust Belt. U.S. President [Donald] Trump has launched a high tariff policy in an attempt to revive U.S. manufacturing and save the Rust Belt, but it would be difficult achieve that with the current tactics alone. His first administration also pursued high tariffs, but the unemployment rates in the Rust Belt region have not declined. Japan and Germany largely have superior technologies in the automobile and other industries. The United States has lagged behind other countries in cutting-edge technologies in the automobile, steel and other industries, partly because those countries made persistent efforts while the United States coasted on a manufacturing boom. The revival of the U.S. manufacturing industry will take a considerable amount of time. Companies have limited options to respond to the U.S. high tariff policy. Even if a company establishes a base in the United States, it will not be able to procure all the necessary raw materials and parts in that country. Production in the United States with imported parts that are subject to high tariffs will drive costs higher. Canon's sales in the United States account for about 30% of its global sales. However, it would be impossible for each of Canon's four sectors, such as medical equipment and all-in-one printers, to have a factory in the United States because it would be unprofitable to do so. One option is to concentrate production in countries with relatively low tariffs, but that would be difficult without [U.S.] tariff rates being determined worldwide. As each country faces a different tariff rate this time around, negotiations will take a long time. The situation has disrupted companies' operations around the world. The United States has the world's largest gross domestic product and imports more than $3 trillion [about \430 trillion] of goods annually, so its high tariff policy will have a significant global impact. The United States will also inevitably suffer as the prices of imported items rise, but Trump's slogan of 'Make America Great Again' resonates with the patriotic sentiment of the American people. The Trump administration's momentum is still not slowing down, so the impact could linger. In the long run, it will be necessary to restructure economic globalization. Japan has a treasure: the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which was put together by former Prime Minister [Shinzo] Abe. Last year, Britain joined the trade bloc, and other countries and regions such as China and Taiwan have also applied for membership. I hope the Japanese government will strongly promote the CPTPP and set a clear direction for the development of an Asian economic zone. It will save many companies in Japan as well firms around the world. Fujio Mitarai After graduating from Chuo University's Faculty of Law, Mitarai, 89, joined Canon Camera Co., now Canon Inc., in 1961. He was transferred to Canon U.S.A., Inc. in 1966 where he was president from 1979 to 1989. He then served as president and chairman of Canon. Since 2020, Mitarai has led the company with the current double position of chairman and CEO. He was also chairman of Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) from 2006 to 2010.
RTÉ News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Newsom goes on offensive as LA curfew comes into effect
California Governor Gavin Newsom went on the political offensive with a dire warning that US President Donald Trump's crackdown on California "will not end here," attacking the president's policies across the country. Mr Newsom, who observers say is weighing a presidential run in 2028, has been full-throated in his insistence that Mr Trump overstepped his authority by deploying troops to Los Angeles to quell days of unruly protests against immigration raids. However, he went well beyond accusing the president of stoking tensions in the country's second-biggest city to attack Mr Trump's ongoing, polarising effort to "Make America Great Again." "California may be first, but it clearly will not end here," Mr Newsom warned in the live-streamed address. Mr Trump, he said, is a "president who wants to be bound by no law or constitution, perpetuating a unified assault on American tradition." "If some of us can be snatched off the streets without a warrant, based only on suspicion or skin colour, then none of us are safe," he said. "Authoritarian regimes begin by targeting people who are least able to defend themselves. But they do not stop there," he added. Mr Newsom ran through a stark list of the Republican leader's actions since he returned to the White House in January, from firing government watchdogs to threatening universities' funding and targeting law firms. "He's declared a war, a war on culture, on history, on science, on knowledge itself," the 57-year-old Democrat said. This weekend, Mr Trump will spend his 79th birthday watching tanks rumble through Washington at a parade to mark the 250th anniversary of the US army. Mr Newsom accused him of "forcing" the military "to put on a vulgar display to celebrate his birthday, just as other failed dictators have done in the past." He charged Mr Trump with "taking a wrecking ball" to American democracy, and said there were "no longer any checks and balances" on the president. "Congress is nowhere to be found," Mr Newsom said. He called on Americans to "stand up and be held to account," but urged any protesters to do so peacefully. "I know many of you are feeling deep anxiety, stress and fear," he said. "What Donald Trump wants most is your fealty, your silence, to be complicit in this moment. Do not give in to him," he added. A presumed frontrunner for Democratic leadership, Mr Newsom has made no secret of his political ambitions and has not shied away from a public showdown with Mr Trump. In the five days since the Los Angeles protests began, he has brawled with officials on social media and dared the Trump administration to make good on its threats to arrest him. It comes as hundreds of US Marines arrived in the Los Angeles area under orders from Mr Trump, as the city's mayor declared a curfew for parts of the downtown area and police arrested 197 people in a fifth day of street protests. State and local officials have called Mr Trump's response an extreme overreaction to mostly peaceful demonstrations. About 700 Marines were in a staging area in the Seal Beach area about 50km south of Los Angeles, awaiting deployment to specific locations, a US official said. California's two senators, Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, said in a joint statement that active-duty military personnel should only be mobilised domestically "during the most extreme circumstances, and these are not them." Mr Trump, who has made the immigration crackdown his signature issue, used a speech honouring soldiers to defend his decision, telling soldiers at the Army base in Fort Bragg, North Carolina: "Generations of Army heroes did not shed their blood on distant shores only to watch our country be destroyed by invasion and third-world lawlessness." "What you're witnessing in California is a full-blown assault on peace, on public order and on national sovereignty, carried out by rioters bearing foreign flags," Mr Trump said, adding his administration would "liberate Los Angeles." Demonstrators have waved the flags of Mexico and other countries in solidarity for the migrants rounded in a series of intensifying raids. Mayor says stop the raids Los Angeles mayor Ms Bass emphasised at a press conference that unrest has been limited to a few downtown blocks and she drew a distinction between the majority of demonstrators protesting peacefully and a smaller number of agitators she blamed for violence and looting. She later told another briefing a curfew had been considered for several days but decided to impose one starting today after 23 businesses were looted on Monday night. In what has become a ritual each afternoon, police started forcing demonstrators away from the streets outside the Metropolitan Detention Centre, where many detained immigrants are held. Multiple groups of protesters meandered through downtown Los Angeles, monitored or followed by police armed with less lethal munitions. Police said they arrested 197 people, more than doubling the total number of arrests in the region since Saturday. Nearby business owners who were scrubbing off graffiti and sweeping up said they did not support the immigration raids and felt Mr Trump's response was only fanning the flames. "I agree with what the protesters are defending - they're standing up for the Latino community," said Frank Chavez, 53, manager of an office building. "But there are a few carrying out vandalism and violence, and that must be stopped," he added. Protests took place in other cities including Chicago, where police led at least two demonstrators away in handcuffs from a combative march through downtown. Other protesters shouted "Shame! Shame!" as officers took away detained demonstrators. Hundreds of people turned out for the evening protest, carrying signs with messages such as: "The people say ICE out" and "Immigrants made America." "Even if they send the police, or dogs or whatever, we're always going to be out here," said protester Marquise Howard, 24. More immigration raids The Marines do not have arrest authority and will protect federal property and personnel, according to military officials. There were approximately 2,100 Guard troops in greater Los Angeles yesterday, with more on the way, the official said. Mr Newsom and the state sued Mr Trump and the Defence Department on Monday, seeking to block the deployment of federal troops. California Attorney General Rob Bonta told Reuters the state was concerned about allowing federal troops to protect personnel, saying there was a risk that could violate an 1878 law that generally forbids the US military, including the National Guard, from taking part in civilian law enforcement. "The federal property part I understand - defending and protecting federal buildings," Mr Bonta said. "But protecting personnel likely means accompanying ICE agents into communities and neighbourhoods, and protecting functions could mean protecting the ICE function of enforcing the immigration law." US Immigration and Customs Enforcement yesterday posted photos on X of National Guard troops accompanying ICE officers on an immigration raid. Trump administration officials have vowed to redouble the immigration raids in response to the street protests. Marines are trained for conflicts around the world and used for rapid deployments in case of emergencies, such as threats to US embassies. Some units also learn riot and crowd control techniques.
