by Trump’s outburst alarmed NATO allies
Donald Trump said over the weekend that when he was president, he told NATO allies that he would “encourage” Russia to do “whatever they wanted” to countries that had not paid the money he said they owed. to the military alliance.
Trump’s statement, made at a campaign rally in South Carolina, appeared to present NATO as more of a protection business than an alliance. He surprised many in Europe, where nations have been building military capabilities in case American support proves unreliable.
Trump has long called for the United States to leave NATO and questioned American support for its foreign allies. National security veterans from both parties said that thinking misunderstands the value of alliances to the United States.
Never before has an American president – not even one aspiring to retake the White House – suggested that he would incite an enemy to attack his allies. If Trump’s statement is to be believed, his possible re-election this year may fundamentally alter the world order.
Possible consequences: Abandoning NATO allies could effectively end the security umbrella that has long protected friends in Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East; It could also negate the value of mutual security agreements with countries such as Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, Argentina, Australia and Panama.
Shocking elections in Pakistan
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party surprised Pakistan by winning more seats in Parliament than any other, despite a concentrated effort by the country’s military to quash support for Khan.
Khan’s success was the first time in Pakistan’s recent history that the political strategy used by the country’s powerful military for decades to maintain its power suddenly failed.
Khan’s populist party prevailed at the polls by relying on social media to evade state censorship and boost turnout while capitalizing on the dissatisfaction of Pakistan’s internet-savvy youth. Khan’s party won even after authorities arrested hundreds of his supporters and imprisoned him in the days before the election. The crackdown seemed to galvanize public support for him.
Whats Next: Accusations of military manipulation emerged after the election, and Pakistan was on edge as thousands of Khan supporters took to the streets to protest, only to be met with tear gas and police batons.
It might seem like the most lopsided trade in history: Pulau Rhun, a small island in what is now Indonesia, for Manhattan.
But in the 17th century, the Netherlands believed they had gotten the biggest deal when trading islands with the British because Rhun was covered in nutmeg, a spice that at that time was worth its weight in gold. Today there are few traces of that wealth on the island.
The symbols of the monarchy, in miniature
Visitors to Windsor Castle, outside London, can marvel at royal-life trappings, including an inch-high jeweled crown.
The small crown and other artifacts, such as a small grand piano with working keys, were included in an intricate dollhouse made by Edwin Lutyens, a prominent British architect, for Queen Mary in 1924.
Cook: This spicy and smoked chili It’s perfect after a long day of skiing or hibernating.
Look: “The Taste of Things,” a New York Times Critic’s Choice, is a gorgeous culinary romance set in 19th-century France.
Read: The popular African comic “Aya” is full of everyday heroes.
Remember: Just one night of lack of sleep can affect your short-term memory.
