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Pompeo in North Korea: Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State visited North Korea and talked directly with Kim Jong Un over the Easter weekend. This emphasizes how much the president wants to undertake this particular negotiation. Trump welcomed the easily reversible unilateral actions from the North Koreans – including the ceasing of tests – while stating that he remains ready to walk away at any point.
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Arab Army for Syria? an old idea has been given new life after Bolton’s appointment as National Security Advisor. Lots of sceptics argue that GCC armies are not able to undertake the same missions as U.S. forces but the issue remains that Trump wants regional players to ‘pull their weight’. If such a plan were implemented then Saudi Arabia could be elevated in the U.S. alliance system – to a major non-NATO ally.
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Trade Tensions: China offered to open up its car sector over a five-year period (probably designed to run the clock down on Trump’s term in office), while a U.S. official went on the record regarding the potential for emergency curbs on China technology investments. Mnuchin could visit China for talks after he told the IMF to better police trade imbalances. Japan is still holding-out against bilateral U.S. trade talks.
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