Battle Lines Trump Edition: Signal-gate and the battle for America's foreign policy
This week, we discovered that recent US airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen were coordinated over the unsecured Signal messaging app, where officials accidentally added Jeffrey Goldberg, Editor of The Atlantic, to the group chat. This astonishing security lapse offered a rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse into America's top national security figures as they make high-stakes decisions. So, what did we learn?
Plus: As Vice President J.D. Vance visits America's air base in Northern Greenland following Donald Trump's declaration that he will do whatever it takes to assert control over the island, we examine what a potential US annexation means for Denmark, Greenland, and the broader Arctic.
Roland Oliphant is joined by Curt Mills, Executive Editor of The American Conservative, Danish politician and MEP Anders Vistisen, and Charly Salonius-Pasternak, CEO of Nordic West Office.
Battle Lines, a podcast from The Telegraph, combines on-the-ground reporting with analytical expertise to help the listener to better understand the course of world politics, wars and tensions, as fault lines grind and slip in an increasingly dangerous and confusing multipolar world.
Listen to Battle Lines using the audio player in this article or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favourite podcast app.
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Los Angeles Times
an hour ago
- Los Angeles Times
G-7 leaders gather in Canada for a summit overshadowed by Israel-Iran crisis and trade wars
BANFF, Alberta — Leaders of some of the world's biggest economic powers began arriving in the Canadian Rockies on Sunday for a Group of 7 summit, overshadowed by an escalating conflict between Israel and Iran and President Trump's unresolved trade war with allies and rivals alike. Israel's strikes on Iran and Tehran's retaliation, which appeared to catch many world leaders unawares, is the latest sign of a more volatile world as Trump seeks to withdraw the U.S. from its role as world policeman. Speaking on a flight to Canada to attend the summit, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he had discussed efforts to de-escalate the crisis with Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as other world leaders. Britain is sending fighter jets and other military reinforcements to the Middle East. 'We do have long-standing concerns about the nuclear program Iran has. We do recognize Israel's right to self-defense, but I'm absolutely clear that this needs to de-escalate. There is a huge risk of escalation for the region and more widely,' Starmer said, adding that he expected 'intense discussions' would continue at the summit. As summit host, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has decided to abandon the annual practice of issuing a joint statement, or communique, at the end of the meeting. With other leaders wanting to talk to Trump in an effort to talk him out of imposing tariffs, the summit risks being a series of bilateral conversations rather than a show of unity. Trump is the summit wild card. Looming over the meeting are his inflammatory threats to make Canada the '51st state' and take over Greenland. French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Greenland on Sunday for a highly symbolic stop on his way to Canada, meeting the Arctic territory's leader and Denmark's prime minister aboard a Danish helicopter carrier. Macron's office said the trip to Greenland is a reminder that Paris supports principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders as enshrined in the United Nations charter. Macron, who is one of the few leaders to have known Trump during his first term, was the first European leader to visit the White House after Trump took office, emerging unscathed from the Oval Office encounter. But despite the two leaders' sporadic alliance, Macron's approach to Trump has failed to bear major results, with France caught up in the president's planned tariffs on the European Union. Nor did it bring any U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine despite Macron's efforts, together with Starmer, to build a coalition of nations that could deploy forces after any ceasefire with Russia, with the hope it would convince the Trump administration to provide backup. Trump is scheduled to arrive late Sunday in Kananaskis, Alberta. Bilateral meetings among other leaders are possible Sunday, but the summit program does not get underway until Monday. Peter Boehm, who managed Canada's 2018 Group of 7 summit in Quebec and is a veteran of six G-7 gatherings, expects the heads of state to pivot discussion to devote more time to the war. 'Leaders can accommodate a discussion, perhaps even a statement,' Boehm said. 'The foreign policy agenda has become much larger with this.' Leaders who are not part of the G-7 but have been invited to the summit by Carney include the heads of state of India, Ukraine, Brazil, South Africa, South Korea, Australia, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates. Avoiding tariffs will continue to be top of mind. 'Leaders, and there are some new ones coming, will want to meet Donald Trump,' Boehm said. 'Trump doesn't like the big roundtable as much he likes the one-on-one.' Bilateral meetings with the American president can be fraught as Trump has used them to try to intimidate the leaders of Ukraine and South Africa. Former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien told a panel last week that if Trump does act out, leaders should ignore him and remain calm like Carney did in his recent Oval Office meeting. 'He tends to be a bully,' Chrétien said. 'If Trump has decided to make a show to be in the news, he will do something crazy. Let him do it and keep talking normally.' Starmer had a warm Oval Office meeting with the president in February, wooing Trump with an invitation for a state visit from King Charles III. Trump has praised the British prime minister, despite their political differences. Last month Britain and the U.S. announced they had struck a trade deal that will slash American tariffs on U.K. autos, steel and aluminum. It has yet to take effect, however, though British officials say they are not concerned the Trump administration might go back on its word. Starmer's attempts to woo Trump have left him in an awkward position with Canada, the U.K.'s former colony, close ally and fellow Commonwealth member. Starmer has also drawn criticism — especially from Canadians — for failing to address Trump's stated desire to make Canada the 51st state. Asked whether he has told Trump to stop the 51st-state threats, Starmer told the Associated Press: 'I'm not going to get into the precise conversations I've had, but let me be absolutely clear: Canada is an independent, sovereign country and a much-valued member of the Commonwealth.' The war in Ukraine will also be on the agenda. President Volodymyr Zelensky is due to attend the summit and is expected to meet with Trump, a reunion coming just months after their bruising Oval Office encounter which laid bare the risks of having a meeting with the U.S. president. Starmer met with Carney in Ottawa before the summit for talks focused on security and trade, in the first visit to Canada by a British prime minister in eight years. German officials were keen to counter the suggestion that the summit would be a 'six against one' event, noting that the G-7 countries have plenty of differences of emphasis among themselves on various issues. 'The only problem you cannot forecast is what the president of the United States will do depending on the mood, the need to be in the news,' said Chrétien. Gillies and Lawless write for the Associated Press and reported from Banff and Ottawa, respectively. AP writers Josh Boak in Calgary, Canada, Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo, Sylvie Corbet in Paris, Geir Moulson in Berlin and Nicole Winfield in Rome contributed to this report.
2 hours ago
G7 leaders gather for summit overshadowed by Israel-Iran crisis and trade wars
BANFF, Alberta -- Leaders of some of the world's biggest economic powers arrive in the Canadian Rockies on Sunday for a Group of Seven summit, overshadowed by an escalating conflict between Israel and Iran and U.S. President Donald Trump's unresolved trade war with allies and rivals alike. Israel's strikes on Iran and Tehran's retaliation, which appeared to catch many world leaders unawares, is the latest sign of a more volatile world as Trump seeks to withdraw the U.S. from its role as world policeman. Speaking on a flight to Canada to attend the summit, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he had discussed efforts to de-escalate the crisis with Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as other world leaders. Britain is sending fighter jets and other military reinforcements to the Middle East. 'We do have longstanding concerns about the nuclear program Iran has. We do recognize Israel's right to self-defense, but I'm absolutely clear that this needs to de-escalate. There is a huge risk of escalation for the region and more widely," Starmer said, adding he expected 'intense discussions' would continue at the summit. As summit host, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has decided to abandon the annual practice of issuing a joint statement, or communique, at the end of the meeting. With other leaders wanting to talk to Trump in an effort to talk him out of imposing tariffs, the summit risks being a series of bilateral conversations rather than a show of unity. Trump is the summit wild card. Looming over the meeting are his inflammatory threats to make Canada the 51st state and take over Greenland. French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Greenland on Sunday for a highly symbolic stop on his way to Canada, meeting the Arctic territory's leader and Denmark's prime minister aboard a Danish helicopter carrier. Macron's office said the trip to Greenland is a reminder that Paris supports principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders as enshrined in the U.N. charter. Macron, who is one of the very few leaders to have known Trump during his first term, was the first European leader to visit the White House after Trump took office, emerging unscathed from the Oval Office encounter. But despite the two leaders' sporadic bromance, Macron's approach to Trump has failed to bear major results, with France caught up in the president's planned tariffs on the European Union. Nor did it bring any U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine despite Macron's efforts, together with Starmer, to build a coalition of nations that could deploy forces after any ceasefire with Russia, with the hope it would convince the Trump administration to provide backup. Trump is scheduled to arrive late Sunday in Kananaskis, Alberta. Bilateral meetings between other leaders are possible Sunday, but the summit program does not get underway until Monday. Peter Boehm, Canada's sherpa of the 2018 G7 summit in Quebec and veteran of six G7 summits, expects the heads of state to pivot discussion to devote more time to the war. 'Leaders can accommodate a discussion, perhaps even a statement,' Boehm said. 'The foreign policy agenda has become much larger with this.' Leaders who are not part of the G7 but have been invited to the summit by Carney include the heads of state of India, Ukraine, Brazil, South Africa, South Korea, Australia, Mexico and the UAE. Avoiding tariffs will continue to be top of mind. 'Leaders, and there are some new ones coming, will want to meet Donald Trump,' Boehm said. 'Trump doesn't like the big round table as much he likes the one-on-one.' Bilateral meetings with the American president can be fraught as Trump has used them to try to intimidate the leaders of Ukraine and South Africa. Former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien told a panel this week that if Trump does act out, leaders should ignore him and remain calm like Carney did in his recent Oval Office meeting. 'He tends to be a bully,' Chrétien said. 'If Trump has decided to make a show to be in the news, he will do something crazy. Let him do it and keep talking normally.' Starmer had a warm Oval Office meeting with the president in February, wooing Trump with an invitation for a state visit from King Charles III. Trump has praised the British prime minister, despite their political differences. Last month Britain and the U.S. announced they had struck a trade deal that will slash American tariffs on U.K. autos, steel and aluminum. It has yet to take effect, however, though British officials say they are not concerned the Trump administration might go back on its word. Starmer's attempts to woo Trump have left him in an awkward position with Canada, the U.K.'s former colony, close ally and fellow Commonwealth member. Starmer has also drawn criticism — especially from Canadians — for failing to address Trump's stated desire to make Canada the 51st state. Asked if he has told Trump to stop the 51st state threats, Starmer told The Associated Press: 'I'm not going to get into the precise conversations I've had, but let me be absolutely clear: Canada is an independent, sovereign country and a much-valued member of the Commonwealth.' The war in Ukraine will be on the agenda. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is due to attend the summit and is expected to meet with Trump, a reunion coming just months after their bruising Oval Office encounter which laid bare the risks of having a meeting with the U.S. president. Starmer met with Carney in Ottawa before the summit for talks focused on security and trade, in the first visit to Canada by a British prime minister for eight years. German officials were keen to counter the suggestion that the summit would be a 'six against one' event, noting that the G7 countries have plenty of differences of emphasis among themselves on various issues. Chrétien.
Boston Globe
2 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Israel's attack in Iran echoes its strategy against Hezbollah
'It's the same playbook that they used with Hezbollah: Let's eradicate the top leadership,' said Randa Slim, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington. 'It's all targeted, the assassination of their senior officials in their homes.' Advertisement Also in the Gaza Strip, Israel has sought to eliminate Hamas, in a war that has killed tens of thousands of people. Over the past 20 months of fighting, Israel has killed one leader of the Hamas organization after another and tried to destroy its capacity to fire homemade rockets into Israel. On Saturday night, Israel targeted a meeting of Houthi leadership, including the military chief of staff, according to an Israeli official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of lack of authorization to discuss operational details. The result was not clear. In May, Israel had threatened to eliminate the head of the Houthis. All three organizations were long established as Iranian proxy forces, Iran's first line of defense against Israel if a war erupted. All three are now much diminished, and none of them have responded to the Israeli attack on Iran with anything more than strong verbal condemnations. Nor have the Iran-allied militias in Iraq. Advertisement However, the proxy forces are nonstate militias, lacking the muscle to challenge the powerful Israeli military except through guerrilla tactics, analysts noted. Hamas staged an attack against Israel in October 2023, killing more than 1,200, and Hezbollah once drove the Israeli forces out of southern Lebanon after a prolonged occupation. The Islamic Republic of Iran, with more than 90 million people, is a different story, experts said. It has among the largest 20 armies in the world, with almost 1 million men under arms. The fact that it was able to lob heavy ballistic missiles into downtown Tel Aviv, Israel, and elsewhere, even if many were deflected by air defenses, was proof of a far more potent enemy. Israel's strikes on Iran's military infrastructure seem to have reduced the number of missiles Iran could fire back, just as its earlier attacks on Hezbollah did. Both the operations against Iran and Hezbollah were preceded by years of intense intelligence operations, including placing agents on the ground. Critics of Israel suggested that decimating Hamas and Hezbollah had made it reckless. If Israel tries to apply the same playbook to a far more powerful enemy, they say, the risks of setting off a regional conflagration are even greater. 'I know that their bets have been paying off for the past few months, but Iran is different from Hamas or the Houthis; it is a much bigger fish to fry,' said Bader Al-Saif, a professor of history at Kuwait University. 'The region has suffered enough.' Advertisement The strategy against Iran does not seem to be a carbon copy of the others in at least one important respect. In September, Israel used bunker-busting explosives to assassinate Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, who was both overall military commander and spiritual guide to the Shiite Muslim faithful who form the bedrock of Hezbollah's followers. The absence of this charismatic leader, say analysts, has made it particularly hard for Hezbollah, widely designated as a terrorist organization in the West, to regroup. That challenge was compounded by the unexpected collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, a key ally of both Iran and Hezbollah. In Iran, there is no indication that Israel has sought to kill the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has a similar dual role of commander in chief and religious guide. He was reportedly moved this past week to a secret, safe location where he could remain in contact with the military. Israeli officials seemed to indicate that Khamenei is not a target. The country's national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, said in a television interview Friday that Israel did not intend to go after Iran's 'political leadership' in the current campaign. Iran, for its part, quickly appointed new commanders to replace some of those killed, among them the commander in chief of the military, the head of the Revolutionary Guard and the head of its air force. One top Iranian general tried to play down the losses, telling state television that it was a mistake to believe that the deaths would 'create weakness.' 'Their successors will continue the path of the martyrs with greater strength and, with God's help, they will make this fake regime regret its actions,' said Brig. Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi, a spokesperson for Iran's armed forces. Advertisement This article originally appeared in
