Five months from Donald Trump’s inauguration, the media have got used to a new style of presidency – where the tone is set not by fireside chats but the boss’s early morning tweets. The grindingly slow pace of Washington consensus-building has been replaced by an unpredictable White House that seems to make up policy on the hoof.
At the same time, governments around the world are struggling to come to terms with Mr Trump’s view of the world, according to which, in the words of Canadian foreign minister Chrystia Freeland, the United States “has come to question the very worth of its mantle of global leadership”.
Almost everything that Washington has offered the world since 1945 is now in question: security guarantees to allies; the preference for open trade and leadership based on western values, even if these were often more window-dressing than reality.
In a much noted newspaper article, National Security Adviser HR McMaster and Director of the National Economic Council Gary Cohn distilled Trumpism in these words: “The world is not a ‘global community’ but an arena where nations, non-governmental actors, and businesses engage and compete for advantage”. The US was ready to bring all its sources of power to bear in this struggle for supremacy.
Did they really mean to portray intentional relations as a battle of all against all? The fact that the US budget for diplomacy is being filleted to pay for more military spending is a clue that these words cannot be ignored.
For the Canadians, reliant on the US for defence and depending on the US market for much of its output, all this is worrying. Ms Freeland said it was time for Canada to “set its own clear and sovereign course”.
The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, in a typically measured tone, said the era when Europeans could rely fully on others was “somewhat over” and it was time to “take our fate into our own hands”.
These are strong words. The best way to look at this new situation is to consider how bizarre the global set-up has been since 1945. In its support of its allies in Nato, the US has been ready in principle to sacrifice New York and Chicago to defend Paris or Munich. Today, that guarantee extends to Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius, cities in the Baltic States unknown to most Americans.
Only a power with the arrogance to believe in its unique status as a force for good in the world could think of exposing its homeland to nuclear destruction in the interest of faraway peoples. America could live happily in its own hemisphere and let Europe go hang.
It is this exceptionalism that Mr Trump is turning his back on. The lightbulb moment for US allies came when Mr Trump was visiting the Nato headquarters in Brussels and dropped from his speech any reference to Nato’s collective defence principle. Though the president did later make a reference to it, this was the moment when it became clear that Mr Trump did not think Tallinn was worth sacrificing New York for.
And why should Americans die for faraway foreigners? When Nato-member Turkey shot down a Russian warplane after it strayed into its airspace from Syria, this could have been the start of all-out war between the alliance and Russia. This did not happen, but it was a theoretical possibility. The truth is that the world is now more complicated than in Cold War days. The war to control Syria is a struggle of all and against all, and the US and Turkey have utterly divergent goals.
The problem is more easily stated that the solution. For Germany, “taking our fate into our own hands” is a pipe dream after relying on the US defence umbrella for two generations. For Canada, Mr Trump’s demand to renegotiate the North America Free Trade Agreement is already damaging investment confidence, even if the final result is less drastic than once feared.
There are various ways that governments have found to respond. The Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, has set in train a huge lobbying effort with US states and cities that share Ottawa’s views on trade, investment and climate change, effectively bypassing the federal government.
In Australia, the issue is one of its defence in what some analysts call the “post-American world”. Should it dial back on its alliance with the US and recognise the rise of China?
But it is the Chinese who have appeared most adept at responding to Mr Trump’s world view. During the campaign he promised to punish China for “raping” America’s workers, but President Xi Jinping seems to have charmed him.
The elements of the charm offensive are a few minor concessions to Trump businesses, opening up China to imports of US beef, and promises to relax rules on foreign ownership of Chinese companies and to buy $8 billion worth of US goods over five years. Mr Xi also persuaded the US president that he was unable to rein in the nuclear ambitions of his ally, the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
The facts and figures brought to the table by the Chinese are things that a businessman understands. In this case, Mr Trump was happy to climb down from his high opening bid if he got something in return.
For the moment Mr Trump has not crossed a Rubicon – he is still in mid-stream. The true nature of how the administration wields America’s overwhelming military power will not be seen in Syria, or in Europe, but most likely in North Korea.
Previous US administrations have held back from destroying North Korea’s nuclear reactor out of deference to China and an unwillingness to set the whole Korean peninsula ablaze, and most likely see the levelling of Seoul, the South Korean capital. If we are to take Mr Trump at his word that he will not allow North Korea to have nuclear weapons that can reach US soil, he will have no such qualms.
Alan Philips is a commentator on global affairs. On Twitter @aphilps
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)
Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)
West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)
Sunday
Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)
Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)
Everton v Liverpool (10pm)
Monday
Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)
Final scores
18 under: Tyrrell Hatton (ENG)
- 14: Jason Scrivener (AUS)
-13: Rory McIlroy (NIR)
-12: Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP)
-11: David Lipsky (USA), Marc Warren (SCO)
-10: Tommy Fleetwood (ENG), Chris Paisley (ENG), Matt Wallace (ENG), Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR)
What went into the film
25 visual effects (VFX) studios
2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots
1,000 VFX artists
3,000 technicians
10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers
New sound technology, named 4D SRL
More on Quran memorisation:
Profile of Tamatem
Date started: March 2013
Founder: Hussam Hammo
Based: Amman, Jordan
Employees: 55
Funding: $6m
Funders: Wamda Capital, Modern Electronics (part of Al Falaisah Group) and North Base Media
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
THE BIO:
Favourite holiday destination: Thailand. I go every year and I’m obsessed with the fitness camps there.
Favourite book: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It’s an amazing story about barefoot running.
Favourite film: A League of their Own. I used to love watching it in my granny’s house when I was seven.
Personal motto: Believe it and you can achieve it.
Match info
Manchester United 1 (Van de Beek 80') Crystal Palace 3 (Townsend 7', Zaha pen 74' & 85')
Man of the match Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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How it works
Booklava works on a subscription model. On signing up you receive a free book as part of a 30-day-trial period, after which you pay US$9.99 (Dh36.70) per month to gain access to a library of books and discounts of up to 30 per cent on selected titles. You can cancel your subscription at any time. For more details go to www.booklava.com
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
Porsche Taycan Turbo specs
Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors
Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
Torque: 1050Nm
Range: 450km
Price: Dh601,800
On sale: now
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
So what is Spicy Chickenjoy?
Just as McDonald’s has the Big Mac, Jollibee has Spicy Chickenjoy – a piece of fried chicken that’s crispy and spicy on the outside and comes with a side of spaghetti, all covered in tomato sauce and topped with sausage slices and ground beef. It sounds like a recipe that a child would come up with, but perhaps that’s the point – a flavourbomb combination of cheap comfort foods. Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s best-selling product in every country in which it has a presence.
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Final round
25 under - Antoine Rozner (FRA)
23 - Francesco Laporta (ITA), Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA), Andy Sullivan (ENG), Matt Wallace (ENG)
21 - Grant Forrest (SCO)
20 - Ross Fisher (ENG)
19 - Steven Brown (ENG), Joakim Lagergren (SWE), Niklas Lemke (SWE), Marc Warren (SCO), Bernd Wiesberger (AUT)
THE BIO
Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain
Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude
Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE
Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally
Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science
Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
The currency conundrum
Russ Mould, investment director at online trading platform AJ Bell, says almost every major currency has challenges right now. “The US has a huge budget deficit, the euro faces political friction and poor growth, sterling is bogged down by Brexit, China’s renminbi is hit by debt fears while slowing Chinese growth is hurting commodity exporters like Australia and Canada.”
Most countries now actively want a weak currency to make their exports more competitive. “China seems happy to let the renminbi drift lower, the Swiss are still running quantitative easing at full tilt and central bankers everywhere are actively talking down their currencies or offering only limited support," says Mr Mould.
This is a race to the bottom, and everybody wants to be a winner.
TWISTERS
Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos
Rating: 2.5/5
ZAYED SUSTAINABILITY PRIZE
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
