In his successful campaign last year for a second term in the White House that will begin on January 20, US president-elect Donald Trump ostentatiously ran as “a man of peace” opposed to foreign adventures and “forever wars”. But if his recent comments are anything to judge by, he is more like a man of pieces. He wants a piece of this country, and a piece of that country, and a piece of yet another one.
It’s hard to exaggerate how extraordinary, norm-violating, provocative and disturbing his recent statements – coming even before he has returned to the Oval Office – have been. They are without precedent in more than 100 years of US policymaking, with Mr Trump suddenly sounding less like a 1930s isolationist and more like an 1890s imperialist.
He has renewed his previous idea of annexing Greenland to the US – an idea roundly rejected by both the inhabitants of Greenland and the Danish state to which they are affiliated. He has offered to buy the territory from Denmark, but he has also more than once suggested that the US might just seize Greenland by force.
Denmark is not just a US ally in Nato, but a founding member of the security alliance dating back to 1949
Denmark, it might be noted, is not just a US ally in Nato, but a founding member of the security alliance dating back to 1949. But what is a little extortion or annexation among friends? Given Mr Trump’s well-known hostility towards Nato, perhaps Copenhagen should regard all of this as well-earned punishment.
Closer to home, Mr Trump insisted he would rename the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America”, as if Mexico were not in the Americas or, for that matter, in North America. However, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who appears to relish her demagogic exchanges of threats and insults with Mr Trump, said it might be more appropriate to rename the US, “Mexican America”.
It’s hard to know who sounds more ridiculous in this puerile mudslinging. But it doesn’t bode well for US-Mexican relations in the coming months, despite the fact that the two countries rely on each other for crucial economic, environmental, strategic and other co-operation.
Mr Trump is long on record as having been opposed to the return of the Panama Canal to Panamanian sovereignty in 1999, pursuant to a treaty negotiated in the 1970s by then president Jimmy Carter, who passed away last week. Given his fit of international bellicosity, it’s no surprise, then, that the Panama Canal, too, has come squarely into Mr Trump’s crosshairs.
He has accused China of controlling the Canal, which has no basis in fact. And he accused the Panamanian government of charging US shipping “exorbitant” rates in violation of the handover treaty even though fees are assessed based on vessel type, cargo and other characteristics not associated with the ownership or flagging of the vessels. It is the kind of accusation that makes little sense when subjected to scrutiny, but which will probably play well with Mr Trump’s nativist base.
He declined to rule out the use of force in seizing the Panama Canal as well as Greenland. In a slightly gentler threat, but with a somewhat more ambitious target, he proposed that Washington could use “economic force” to turn Canada into the 51st state in the US. All of these measures he characterised as pressing matters of national security.
The question is, how seriously to take all of this provocation?
Mr Trump’s defenders will undoubtedly claim that he is adopting canny bargaining positions, over-bidding to achieve some sort of beneficial terms in future negotiations. It’s hard to imagine what can be realistically gained from Denmark or Panama, although complex trade talks with Canada and Mexico are always ongoing.
But this theory seems like an indulgent rationalisation. Perhaps four years of frustration have built up a number of aggressive ideas that simply need to be vented before real responsibility is assumed. Again, that’s probably too optimistic.
Mr Trump may actually be preparing to begin trying to throw the disproportionate US military and economic might around the world for economic gain and perhaps even territorial expansion – including at the expense of longstanding allies.
This is probably the worst-case scenario. It would effectively find Washington joining the ranks of some of the other most potent global and regional countries as another revisionist power standing against the global system that was, ironically, constructed largely under US influence since the end of the Second World War. Moreover, it would, as the targets of such threats indicate, increasingly pit the US against historical partners rather than adversaries.
Perhaps worst of all, such a development would surely presage the retreat of the US into a smaller but much more firmly controlled sphere of influence, presumably based mainly in the western hemisphere, but possibly including parts of the North Atlantic and South Pacific. Under such circumstances, the US could be anticipated to readily accede to the development of regional spheres of influence by former adversaries such as Russia, China and even Iran, or others, in their own immediate environs.
Historically, maintaining a balance of power between spheres of influence held by waxing and waning forces on a global scale has a wretched history. It has almost invariably led to periods of massive strife, most notably the two world wars, and even the Napoleonic wars that were effectively a first world war before that term was coined. Any US policy oriented in that direction is overwhelmingly likely to prove calamitous.
Probably the least worrying plausible explanation is that it’s all just political pandering to a chest-thumping, frustrated, flag-waving domestic support base. Among the most worrying is that this is further, although hardly the only, indication that Mr Trump may be ageing badly.
The rapid-fire nature and inexplicable strategic or any other meaningful value of these outbursts could be consistent with any of these interpretations, especially the latter two. If he’s just pandering, there is little to worry about, at least for now. If, however, this is more evidence of a particularly important national leader increasingly drifting away from reality, that’s bad news for the whole world.
Hopefully the self-proclaimed “man of peace” isn’t going to pieces. It’s even more imperative that he isn’t serious about gobbling up huge chunks of the closest US neighbours. That could take a jigsaw to the international landscape.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
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Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
The five pillars of Islam
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
The years Ramadan fell in May
THE BIO
BIO:
Born in RAK on December 9, 1983
Lives in Abu Dhabi with her family
She graduated from Emirates University in 2007 with a BA in architectural engineering
Her motto in life is her grandmother’s saying “That who created you will not have you get lost”
Her ambition is to spread UAE’s culture of love and acceptance through serving coffee, the country’s traditional coffee in particular.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The five pillars of Islam
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
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The%20specs
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Your rights as an employee
The government has taken an increasingly tough line against companies that fail to pay employees on time. Three years ago, the Cabinet passed a decree allowing the government to halt the granting of work permits to companies with wage backlogs.
The new measures passed by the Cabinet in 2016 were an update to the Wage Protection System, which is in place to track whether a company pays its employees on time or not.
If wages are 10 days late, the new measures kick in and the company is alerted it is in breach of labour rules. If wages remain unpaid for a total of 16 days, the authorities can cancel work permits, effectively shutting off operations. Fines of up to Dh5,000 per unpaid employee follow after 60 days.
Despite those measures, late payments remain an issue, particularly in the construction sector. Smaller contractors, such as electrical, plumbing and fit-out businesses, often blame the bigger companies that hire them for wages being late.
The authorities have urged employees to report their companies at the labour ministry or Tawafuq service centres — there are 15 in Abu Dhabi.
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
ICC Intercontinental Cup
UAE squad Rohan Mustafa (captain), Chirag Suri, Shaiman Anwar, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Saqlain Haider, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Naveed, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Boota, Amir Hayat, Ashfaq Ahmed
Fixtures Nov 29-Dec 2
UAE v Afghanistan, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Hong Kong v Papua New Guinea, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Ireland v Scotland, Dubai International Stadium
Namibia v Netherlands, ICC Academy, Dubai
Spec%20sheet
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Like a Fading Shadow
Antonio Muñoz Molina
Translated from the Spanish by Camilo A. Ramirez
Tuskar Rock Press (pp. 310)
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Scoreline
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 17
Jebel Ali Dragons 20
Harlequins Tries: Kinivilliame, Stevenson; Cons: Stevenson 2; Pen: Stevenson
Dragons Tries: Naisau, Fourie; Cons: Love 2; Pens: Love 2
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
The story in numbers
18
This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens
450,000
More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps
1.5 million
There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m
73
The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association
18,000
The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme
77,400
The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study
4,926
This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Martin Sabbagh profile
Job: CEO JCDecaux Middle East
In the role: Since January 2015
Lives: In the UAE
Background: M&A, investment banking
Studied: Corporate finance
The years Ramadan fell in May
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
