The Spectator’s Post

Dealmakers and investors are keeping a close eye on the potential implications of the upcoming Trump administration. Concerns arise regarding the administration's use of cross-border deals to sway foreign governments towards aligning with US policy objectives, particularly emphasising increased defence expenditures. #InvestmentInsights #GlobalMarkets #manda #crossbordermanda #mergersandacquisitions #deals #dealmaking #dealmaker #corporatedeals #corporatelaw

Latest geopolitical news and analysis from "The World." More at https://lnkd.in/g_4Zt2m2 and https://lnkd.in/g_mCBTp6. #israelhamaswar #geopolitics #foreignaffairs #diplomacy #theworld #usnews #worldnews

Instead of confiscating russian tax money, G7 willingly offering money of western countries just to protect russian assets. “It’s a political scandal in my mind!”. This is the opinion of Timothy Ash during the panel discussion at The Chatham House regarding russian assets confiscation and possible consequences for Europe if Ukraine loses the war. At the beginning Timothy mentioned a very important and quite absurd point regarding G7 protecting russian money: “We have 330 billion dollars of russian taxpayers in western banks accounts, in cash. …Meanwhile G7 are very happy to spend western taxpayers money to fund that 100 billion because they’re defending 330 billion of russia taxpayers money. That’s a political scandal, in my mind!”. Furthermore, he described possible consequences for Europe in case Ukraine loses war. Those include migration, ethnic conflicts and further defense funding as well. He mentioned also that this must the primarily argument for Christine Lagard, who recently claimed protection of russian assets is the protection of the international order. . . . . . #ukraine #standwithukraine #supportukraine #ukraine🇺🇦 #ukrainerussiawar #ukrainetoday #ukrainenews #stopputin #stopwarinukraine #warinukraine #supportukrainians #stoprussia #ukrainenow #stopputinnow #stoprussianaggression #ukrainewar

Joe Biden has called on the United Kingdom to transfer control of the Chagos Islands, raising concerns about the future of a crucial U.S. military airbase. Following the UK's general election, U.S. National Security Council and State Department officials warned the incoming Labour government that refusal to cede the islands could jeopardize the U.S.-UK special relationship. The Chagos Islands, a UK overseas territory since 1965, hosts the strategically vital Diego Garcia airbase. The proposed agreement would hand control of the islands to Mauritius, while allowing the UK and U.S. to lease the Diego Garcia base for 99 years. U.S. officials stressed the urgency of finalizing the deal to deter Mauritius from seeking a binding ruling from the International Court of Justice, which could disrupt airbase operations. This base is essential for military activities, especially in the Middle East, and has historically supported operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The British government is facing criticism from MPs for considering this deal, with opponents claiming it undermines UK sovereignty and projects weakness. There are also concerns regarding potential Chinese influence over Mauritius. Nevertheless, UK officials argue that the legal and political context necessitates the agreement, emphasizing that the unique circumstances of the Chagos Islands differentiate this situation from other territorial disputes involving the UK. #AsiaRisk #GeopoliticalConflictandDisputes #China Follow us for daily updates on risk and operations in Asia! https://lnkd.in/gaY8dnau

Here’s the cold, hard truth: under Trudeau, Canada isn’t a country anymore. It’s a puppet state, where China, India, Iran, Russia, and god knows how many other foreign actors are pulling the strings, while Trudeau and his woke Liberal minions sit back and let it happen. You want proof? Look no further than this SECU committee meeting—the most pathetic display of government betrayal and cowardice you’ll ever see. But, of course, in Trudeau’s Canada, justice takes a backseat to weakness and complacency. Instead of swift action, we got the usual Liberal dithering, allowing Canada to become the soft target for foreign interference that it is today. The RCMP even had to break protocol and go public with the findings because Trudeau’s government dragged its feet for far too long. The cowardice is on full display for all to see—when Canada asked India to cooperate, they outright refused, and Trudeau just shrugged it off. And what’s happening now? India calls Canada’s claims “baseless”, brushing us off like an irrelevant backwater, while our intelligence says otherwise. The RCMP has laid out the facts—Canadian citizens are being targeted—and yet, the Trudeau Liberals can’t muster the courage to do what needs to be done. They’ve let foreign agents run roughshod over our sovereignty. This isn’t just about a slow response—it’s about Trudeau’s cowardice. It’s about the Liberals being more concerned with appeasing foreign powers than protecting their own citizens. And it’s about the total failure of this government to do the one job it’s supposed to do—keep Canadians safe. While foreign interference runs rampant, while foreign agents commit crimes on Canadian soil, Trudeau’s Liberals are sitting on their hands, watching as our sovereignty crumbles. And that’s not just a failure of governance—that’s a betrayal. https://lnkd.in/gTGw4MiJ

I truly despise what the incompetent and spiteful British establishment has done to our country, I really do. Not too long ago, we knew who we were - confident, assertive, optimistic, unafraid, calm, funny! Now? The joy has been sucked away, replaced by this dour pessimism and boring hate for anything that made Britain so great. I don't want that, and I don't think the vast majority of Brits do either. Watching Trump and the Americans today, it's honestly made more determined than ever to restore what we had. I don't particularly care if we're liked by the rest of the world, I care if we're respected. Because right now, we're a joke, and have been for some time. Learn from Trump - let's be unapologetically patriotic. Slash tax across the board, enforce the border, deport those with no right to be here, accept biological reality, fight back against woke, bulldoze nonsensical foreign aid, eradicate DEI, deliver sensible infrastructure, carpet bomb public sector waste, and plenty more... I love Britain. I really do. We've got the best people in the world. We need a Government that will put us first, protect our interests and get the hell out of our way. The Americans have given the West a lifeline. We need to grab it with both hands. Britain's relentless decline, under numerous inept and pathetic governments, comes to an end at the next election.

Putin discusses international settlements system with Russian Security Council "The work is underway on the whole, it is going normally but it is better to timely talk about difficulties and outline required actions to overcome these difficulties attempted to be created for us from the outside," the Russian president noted MOSCOW, October 4/ Russian President Vladimir Putin has discussed measures required to form an international settlement system with permanent members of the Security Council in the videoconference format. "I suggest talking today about measures to form the system of international settlements. We are aware this is one of serious tasks and one of serious challenges for us in current conditions," the head of state said. "The work is underway on the whole, it is going normally but it is better to timely talk about difficulties and outline required actions to overcome these difficulties attempted to be created for us from the outside," Putin noted. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Speakers of the Federation Council and the State Duma Valentina Matviyenko and Vyacheslav Volodin, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, Secretary of the Security Council Sergey Shoigu, Aide to the President Nikolay Patrushev, Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Special Envoy of the President Sergey Ivanov, and Governor of the Bank of Russia Elvira Nabiullina took part in the meeting. #business #finance #financialservices

Canadians and our leaders are currently somewhere between the first and third stage of grief when it comes to our deteriorating relationship with the United States, the strongest military power the world has ever seen. From denial - 'this is just a typical Trump negotiation tactic' - to anger - 'we will cut electricity to Michigan and welcome a number of states to join Canada' - to bargaining - 'we will apply counter tariffs on orange juice and export our oil elsewhere'. Understandably, Canadians are having a hard time coping with the harsh new reality. But there are a number of realities Canadians should acknowledge: 1. The U.S. Can’t Afford to Play Protector Anymore: The U.S. federal government is on an unsustainable fiscal path. The U.S. simply cannot fund its historic role as the global defender without demanding its allies step up—and that includes us. 2. The World Is Changing Faster Than We Are: Geography has long been our greatest defense—oceans on all sides, and a peaceful neighbor to the south. But as the Arctic melts, we are slowly revealing that only a mid-sized sea separates us from countries that view us and the world order as fair game. The U.S. needs a “strong and free” Canada, but our military preparedness isn’t just low—it’s almost nonexistent. 3. Canada’s Weakness Creates a Liability for the U.S.: Let’s be honest - we take the American security umbrella for granted. But an underfunded Canadian military isn’t just our problem—it’s theirs too. Our inability to address emerging threats makes us a liability, exposing them to risks they cannot tolerate. If Canada doesn’t step up in a big way, we risk becoming collateral damage in their efforts to secure themselves. Canadians pride ourselves on being peacemakers, mediators, and global citizens. But let’s practice what we preach: mutual respect and shared responsibility. If we expect to remain America’s closest ally, we need to act like one. This means investing in our military—not because we want war, but because we value peace. It means educating Canadians about what’s at stake—not just for us, but for our neighbors. And it means educating that what Sir John A. Macdonald and generations of Canadians built is worth defending—now more than ever. Ignore these realities, and we risk a number of damaging outcomes, including: - A frustrated U.S. administration punishing us economically in ways we can’t afford. - Or worse, realizing that the “51st state” threat wasn’t just hyperbole. The faster we move from denial to acceptance, the faster we can rebuild a relationship with the greatest ally and neighbor any country could dream of.

Justin Trudeau's meeting with Donald Trump and senior members of his team at Mar-a-Lago on Friday evening was nothing short of a diplomatic coup for the Liberal government. Regardless of the end result, the fact that Trudeau was the first G7 leader to meet with Trump following his Nov. 5 win speaks volumes. Bringing Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc and chief of staff Katie Telford along was both smart and shrewd. LeBlanc not only holds responsibility for Canadian border security, he's also the most likeable and personable cabinet minister in Ottawa. LeBlanc excels in diplomacy and relationship-building with pesky political leaders that are often enemies of the Liberal gov't and its agenda. He has built strong relationships with Conservative premiers as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs for many years. Despite the immense political and policy challenges this gov't has faced over the past year, Friday's meeting was a clear win for the Trudeau gov't. It was also a win for the Canadian people. One third of economic activity in this country is generated via the exports of our goods and services over the U.S. border. A 25% tariff would devastate our economy, dealing a body blow to the oil & gas and auto sectors. Trump is the prototypical businessman and a mercurial one at that: his modus operandi in gov't is dealmaking. Trump has long used threats to extract concessions from key allies with varying degrees of success. I believe that Trump's pledge to implement a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods entering the U.S. is just that: a threat intended to get Canada to commit to stronger border security and a strategy to address increasing amounts of fentanyl crossing the U.S.-Canada border.