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Trump ups the nuclear ante as he blinks on China trade
Nile Bowie reports that Donald Trump’s bid to strong-arm Beijing with tariffs backfired, as the Busan summit saw him ease duties and export curbs while Xi Jinping offered modest concessions. Trump ultimately walked back his supposed trade war trump card, while his surprise nuclear-testing call risks upending nonproliferation norms.
Ukraine faces encirclement as Russia presses its advantage
James Davis writes that Russian forces are tightening encirclements around Pokrovsk and Kupyansk as Ukraine faces manpower collapse and rising desertions. Trump’s frustration over stalled diplomacy has spilled into nuclear brinkmanship, while Moscow hardens its stance and the world edges closer to an arms-control unraveling.
Berlin’s fiscal pivot puts ‘safe asset’ status on the line
Diego Faßnacht reports that Germany’s defense buildout and soaring social outlays could push debt near 90% of GDP by decade’s end, eroding Bund credibility as Europe’s “safe asset.” Ratings pressure, a fatter term premium, and tight labor markets now threaten both Berlin’s AAA and the euro’s stability.
More trade and investment, less extortion for South Korea
Scott Foster writes that Trump’s Seoul visit delivered a compromise: reduced auto tariffs and a phased $350 billion investment instead of tribute. Lee Jae Myung’s diplomacy – backed by new tech and trade ties with China – shows Seoul balancing symbolism with pragmatism as Asia’s middle powers quietly hedge against US volatility.
