Getting into the Association of South-East Asian Nations is as hard as getting into heaven, says José Ramos-Horta, the president of Timor-Leste. After years in purgatory, the tiny country of 1.4m people has at last ascended https://t.co/1ZQuQNT4Gt ...

Europe will now have to foot the bill in Ukraine almost entirely without America. The task is daunting. But the continent knows what must be done, and is finding the backbone to do it https://t.co/WSrSGZtvk7 ...

The Philippines’ top defense official called for deeper military ties with the US in a bid to face down mutual threats amid worsening relations with Beijing https://t.co/QPr45JgFI5 ...

China’s and Canada’s leaders met on Friday for the first formal sitdown in eight years as the two nations look to reset ties strained over trade and security issues https://t.co/FvXw93TvRi ...

Event & Location - Johannesburg will host the G20 Summit next month [1] Political Implication - South African leaders request Johannesburg not to embarrass them during the G20 Summit [1] - There is concern that Johannesburg might embarrass South Africa during the summit [1]

US-China Trade Relations - A one-year truce exists in US-China trade relations, but tensions remain from previous policies [1][2][8] - The US accounts for 15% of total global imports, and China accounts for 15% of global exports of goods, highlighting their mutual dependence [5] - The current trade situation is close to pre-"Liberation Day" tariffs, with some exceptions like fentanyl tariffs and licensing regimes on magnets [3][4] - Ambiguity persists on complex issues like Taiwan, TikTok, high-tech chips (BLACKWELL), and China's potential Boeing/oil purchases from Russia [4][5][6] Geopolitical Strategy and Alliances - The US should work with allies to develop secure supply chains, reducing dependence on China for rare earths [9] - Agreements with allies like Australia are crucial, and exploring opportunities in Latin America for rare earths is important [10] - China is considered the biggest competitor and strategic threat to the US, necessitating agreements with countries to pull them out of China's sphere of influence [11] - The US faces distrust and dislike globally, hindering cooperative agreements, despite other countries needing the US market and defense [16] Market Discipline and Future Outlook - Market discipline is expected to prevent an escalating trade war, as it would hurt both the US and China significantly [5][8][9] - The US has been perceived as an unreliable trade partner, with deals being made and then retracted, creating distrust [15][16] - A shift towards cooperative agreements, rather than a "bullying mentality," is needed for improved relations and cooperation [15][16]

Though much remains to be resolved in the world’s most important relationship https://t.co/ezVvAQ9zn8 ...

President Trump blew up America’s decadeslong engagement with China during his first term. Now, he is poised to relaunch the kind of engagement with Beijing embraced by predecessors from Bill Clinton to Barack Obama—but on Trump’s terms. https://t.co/Ab67BGF3Nt ...

China’s rulers want to show it is in their people’s interests to keep America focused on Europe, according to the EU’s foreign-policy chief https://t.co/TE2cWiF7Rg ...

Johannesburg will host the G20 Summit next month and South African leaders have one request of the city: Don’t embarrass us. That may be too much to ask. https://t.co/bF8C3vDm2p ...