NYTIMES (Damien Cave) - What Middle Powers Fear from the Trump-Xi Summit
Asian nations worry that the president might trade security commitments for better economic terms with China during his planned meeting with Xi Jinping this week.
NYTIMES (Ben Hubbard) - In Turkey, Middle Powers Ponder Diplomacy With a Rogue U.S.
The U.S. remains an essential player. The problem, one analyst said, is how to deal effectively with a power that is “indispensable, coercive and unpredictable at the same time.”
NYTIMES (John Eligon and Zimasa Matiwane) - South African President on Trump’s Oval Office ‘Ambush’ and ‘Racist’ Policies
In an interview with The New York Times, President Cyril Ramaphosa opened up about the role of middle powers, relations with Washington and apartheid.
NYTIMES (Alex Travelli) - Squeezed Between Trump and China, India Looks for Faraway Friendships
India is overcoming its aversion to free-trade deals to cozy up with Canada and other middle powers.
AI:Caught in the crossfire of President Trump’s aggressive tariff policies and China's economic expansion, India is strategically pivoting away from traditional trade stances to forge new alliances with middle powers like Canada. This shift represents a desperate move by New Delhi to secure economic stability as the global order fractures under the weight of American protectionism and the relentless push of Beijing's influence. By seeking "faraway friendships," India aims to bypass the squeeze created by the escalating trade wars, attempting to navigate a precarious landscape where traditional allies are increasingly looking toward China for relief from Washington's uncompromising economic demands.Open
NYTIMES (Ian Austen) - Mark Carney Rejects Suggestions That He Walked Back His Davos Speech to Trump
Scott Bessent said that the Canadian prime minister had recanted his call on middle powers to no longer accommodate the U.S.
AI:Mark Carney has rejected claims that he recanted his recent Davos speech regarding how middle powers should navigate relations with the United States following comments from Scott Bessent suggesting a reversal of his stance.Open