It was a masterpiece of diplomacy in a very difficult moment. The summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping was above all an exercise in damage limitation — an attempt to prevent a further deterioration of bilateral relations rather than a serious effort to improve them. Little room for the latter was in evidence. The […]
In the USA and Europe, immigration is the root cause of the new identity crisis. In China and Asia, it’s about politics and Taiwan. There seems to be a new global quest for identity similar to the one that shaped nation-states two centuries ago, moving away from old royal identities. America was a nation of […]
In the Trump-Xi meeting, the long-term issues are the backdrop the two won’t discuss. They strain bilateral ties, but are too thorny to touch. Both will wait for the midterm elections. (based on a conversation with Marco Mayer) The May 13-15 Beijing summit between US and Chinese presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping takes place […]
In a sea of chaos and muzzled or fake news, the powerless Power of the Church could be the new anchor for unbiased information. Once, the USSR feared Western free media. Press objectivity was a virus that infected the Soviet bubble of falsehood with truth. In self-defense, Moscow accused the press of lying. Now, in […]
How do you square the US with the Holy See? The meeting in Rome was a step forward, but there is still a long way to go. Trump should have no interest in picking a fight with the Vatican. The Vatican, the paladin of peace, doesn’t want war or hostility with anyone, certainly not with […]
Absolute power with absolute faith. Beijing’s single-minded, long-term race to win the future, and the Western loss of religion and contemporary belief in the moment. Some long-term considerations on the eve of Trump’s visit to Beijing. US President Donald Trump will travel to China in a few days, possibly seeking a temporary fix or respite […]
Four humble suggestions for the American administration to restart bilateral ties on the right foot. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is arriving in Rome on Thursday to meet with the Holy See’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and Pope Leo XIV. The apparent purpose is to mend relations after recent ruptures and friction. […]
