- The Guardian
- Issue #2189
GERMANY: Presently the United States has more than 36,000 troops stationed in Germany. It had planned for some time to reduce the number by withdrawing 5,000 within a year. President Trump, however has announced that the number might be increased saying, “We are cutting a lot further than 5,000,” he said last week. Trump previously criticised German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over his stance on Iran and nuclear weapons. Merz told a group of students that the US “clearly have no strategy” and was being “humiliated” by Iran.
CHINA: The Chinese Foreign Ministry marked the 80th anniversary of the start of the Tokyo Trials by warning the “spectre of Japanese militarism still remains and continues to breed.” The Ministry said in a statement that along with the Nuremberg Trials, “the Tokyo Trials nailed the fascist war criminals to the eternal pillar of shame,” adding that distorting the historical record would lead to “future disasters.” China condemned the Japanese government’s rearmament and revisionist denial of wartime atrocities, including in school textbooks.
INDONESIA: Indonesia is exploring the possibility of turning Bali into a safe international financial haven, according to the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs. “We can offer Kura Kura Bali as a location for the financial centre,” the minister said during a working visit to Bali. The initiative followed Indonesia’s President Prawobo Subianto’s earlier announcement – made against the background of the Iran conflict – to create a financial hub specifically for investors moving capital out of more volatile areas. “Indonesia is one of the countries considered among the safest. We plan to create a special financial centre,” Prabowo Subianto pledged.
JAPAN: Nearly 70% of Japanese citizens believe that the country should conduct its foreign policy more independently from the United States. The findings reflect a growing desire within Japan to establish a foreign policy stance that puts national interests first. While 24% of the respondents stated that Japan should continue to follow the US in its diplomatic efforts, a significant 68% indicated a preference for a foreign policy that is “as independent as possible.” This highlights the shift in public sentiment regarding Japan-US relations. The poll also revealed widespread criticism about the ability of the US to maintain global peace. When asked to what extent the international community can trust Washington in this role, only 3% of respondents said “a good deal,” while 40% expressed “some trust.” 48% thought that the US cannot be trusted a great deal, and 6% believe it cannot be trusted at all.
PAKISTAN: Pakistan has officially announced the transit of goods into Iran through its territory and ports, effective immediately. The announcement coincided with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s visit to Islamabad for talks with Prime Minister Sherbaz Sharif. The move marks a significant shift away from the UAE ports Iran had long relied on for regional trade access.
VATICAN: The Vatican confirmed the meeting of Pope Leo XIV and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The Pope had earlier criticised US President Trump’s immigration policies and disagreed with him over the war in Iran. According to the US State Department, Marco Rubio’s meeting aims to thaw diplomatic relations between the US and the Vatican, as well as discussing the situation in the Middle East and mutual interests in Latin America.
