Trump is weirdly determined to crush this small African kingdom
Jagged mountain ranges under blazing blue skies. Sweeping plains broken by twisting ravines.
Unusually for a resident of Sussex, some of my earliest memories are of the landscapes of the Kingdom of Lesotho in southern Africa, where I spent six years of my childhood.
So forgive me if I take it personally when Donald Trump, with a casual flick of a pen, wrecks the economy of the country where I went to school.
Buried in the president's declaration of economic war on the entire world is the remarkable fact that America's highest tariff will be imposed not on China or Russia – or even Denmark or Panama – but Lesotho, which will suffer a 50 per cent levy.
I want to be strictly fair: it would be wrong to suggest that Mr Trump had never heard of Lesotho before administering this economic punishment-beating. While addressing Congress last month he actually name-checked the kingdom. Admittedly he called it a place 'nobody has ever heard of', but that only proves that he must have heard of it himself.
Yet however little Mr Trump cares about Lesotho, the kingdom's people will care very much about his tariffs. A quarter of a century ago, a humane and far-sighted American administration passed the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, which offered not aid or handouts but tariff-free access to the US market for African countries.
Free trade worked its magic and Lesotho soon acquired textile factories churning out Levi jeans and other fashionable items for export to America. Today those factories generate 10 per cent of the country's GDP and employ 12,000 people – a big number in a nation whose population is only 2.3 million. What will happen to them now that their employers risk losing their biggest market?
The Maluti mountains, beautiful but impossible to cultivate, cover two thirds of Lesotho. The young once had little choice but to leave for South Africa in search of work. The new textile industry represented an opportunity to change that, but for how much longer?
Whether Lesotho carries on exporting jeans will make no difference to America, but it will make a huge difference to the fortunes of a Commonwealth country.
So what is to be done? First remember one fact. During the Second World War more than 20,000 men from Lesotho volunteered to fight for Britain, of whom 1,000 never went home.
There were only 600,000 people in the entire country in 1939, meaning that one male in every 15 served in British uniform. Did anywhere else in the Empire provide more volunteers per capita?
Today, in the heart of Lesotho's capital, Maseru, you will find a replica Spitfire prominently displayed in Makoanyane Square. Then you will learn that during the War, the people of Lesotho raised enough money to pay for 24 Spitfires for the RAF.
Lesotho came to Britain's aid when we needed it most. I know Sir Keir Starmer will have a crammed briefing note for his next call with Mr Trump. But what the president did with the stroke of a pen can be undone with equal speed.
The next time he gets the chance, our Prime Minister should return a debt of honour and urge justice for Africa's mountain kingdom.
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wall Street Journal
8 minutes ago
- Wall Street Journal
Nikkei Down 1.3%, Dragged by Electronics, Auto Stocks
0030 GMT — Japanese stocks are lower as geopolitical tensions escalate in the Middle East and uncertainty persists over U.S. tariffs. Electronics and auto stocks are leading the declines. Tokyo Electron is down 4.3% and Sony Group is 2.6% lower. Toyota Motor is down 2.5% and Subaru is 4.1% lower after President Trump said he might raise tariffs on imported automobiles. USD/JPY is at 142.90, down from 143.73 as of Thursday's Tokyo stock market close. Investors are closely watching any developments related to Iran nuclear talks and U.S. tariffs. The Nikkei Stock Average is down 1.3% at 37681.03. ( @kosakunarioka)
The Hill
10 minutes ago
- The Hill
Hegseth's long week on Capitol Hill
The Big Story Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday closed out his third and final day of hearings on Capitol Hill. © Associated Press The final day was not without its fireworks, with several clashes with lawmakers as he dodged questions on invading Greenland, Ukraine aid, his use of the app Signal, and troop deployment in Los Angeles. Hegseth, in his first appearance before the House Armed Services Committee, was quickly hit with queries from panel Democrats, starting with ranking member Adam Smith (Wash.). Smith pressed the Pentagon chief on whether it is the Defense Department's policy that the U.S. military be prepared to take Greenland or Panama by force. Hegseth would not rule out the possibility of a future military invasion of the Arctic territory and Central American country, suggesting to lawmakers the Pentagon could have such plans and that the U.S. has an interest in protecting both areas from Chinese influence. The Defense Department 'plans for any particular contingency,' he said, adding that 'I think the American people would want the Pentagon to have plans for anything.' The answer caused Smith to scoff, replying: 'I don't think the American people voted for President Trump because they were hoping we would invade Greenland. I'm going to go out on a limb on that one.' Hegseth was later pressed by Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio), who implored him to confirm that 'it is not your testimony today that there are plans at the Pentagon for taking by force or invading Greenland, correct? Because I sure as hell hope that it is not that.' Hegseth would only repeat that the 'Pentagon has plans for any number of contingencies' and that officials 'look forward to working with Greenland to ensure that it is secured from any potential threats.' Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) took his five minutes to supply Hegseth with the most direct questioning he's yet faced on whether he shared classified information on U.S. attack plans in Yemen via the Signal messaging app. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.) then lambasted the Defense secretary as an 'embarrassment,' demanding he resign over a range of issues including the Signal group chat, deploying Marines to Los Angeles amid protests and his views on Russia's war in Ukraine. 'I have called for your resignation. I didn't think you were qualified before your confirmation, and you have done nothing to inspire confidence in your ability to lead competently,' Carbajal said. The hearing caps off Hegseth's long week on Capitol Hill, which began on Tuesday with a relatively quiet House Appropriations defense subcommittee hearing. But on Wednesday, Hegseth faced heated questions from the Senate's version of the Appropriations panel, which bombarded Hegseth over the Russia-Ukraine war, the Pentagon's delays in delivering budget information and the administration's focus on Greenland in its Arctic strategy. Read the full report at Welcome to The Hill's Defense & National Security newsletter, I'm Ellen Mitchell — your guides to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads How policy will affect defense and national security now and inthe future: Rain, thunderstorms forecast for DC military parade Rain and thunderstorms are forecast for Saturday in the nation's capital, where a day of festivities and a military parade are scheduled to celebrate the U.S. Army's 250th birthday — which happens to coincide with President Trump's 79th birthday. The daylong festivities in Washington will take place mostly on the National Mall, where a fitness event will be held at 9:30 a.m. and a festival will kick off at 11 a.m. The festival … US troops begin detaining migrants on border defense zone U.S. troops at the southern border started detaining migrants last week as part of the 'Deep South Campaign' to prosecute individuals found trespassing in National Defense Areas (NDAs). President Trump has currently designated the U.S.-Mexico stretches between El Paso to Fort Hancock, Texas, as an NDA alongside the land line marking the country's boundaries in New Mexico. U.S. Army Lt. Col. Chad Campbell said three individuals … Newsom says Trump never discussed sending National Guard: 'Stone cold liar' California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said in a podcast episode Thursday that President Trump did not discuss sending the National Guard to Los Angeles when the two recently spoke to each other before Trump's announcement. 'He lied, he lied. On my mother and dad's grave. I don't mess around, when I say this, he lied. Stone cold liar,' Newsom said on The New York Times's 'The Daily.' Host Michael Barbaro had said the … On Our Radar Upcoming things we're watching on our beat: In Other News Branch out with a different read from The Hill: Senate Democrats calls for Noem to resign Multiple Senate Democrats on Thursday called for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign after Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) was forcibly removed and later handcuffed for interrupting a press conference Noem held in Los Angeles. 'Kristi Noem should resign in disgrace,' Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) … On Tap Tomorrow Events in and around the defense world: What We're Reading News we've flagged from other outlets: Trending Today Two key stories on The Hill right now: Republicans lay groundwork for 'total tax cliff' at end of Trump's term Congressional Republicans are laying the groundwork for a tax cliff at the end of President Trump's term in office. While the conference is pushing … Read more Trump on 'No Kings' protests during military parade: 'I don't feel like a king' President Trump was asked Thursday to respond to planned counterprotests that will coincide with a military parade in the nation's capital to … Read more Opinions in The Hill Op-eds related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill: You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here
Associated Press
10 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Live updates: Israel attacks Iran's capital with explosions booming across Tehran
Israel attacked Iran's capital early Friday, with explosions booming across Tehran. The attack comes as tensions have reached new heights over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program. Update: Date: 2025-06-13 00:54:47 Title: The Israeli official said Iran is posing three threats to the state of Israel Content: First, he alleged that the Iranian government is advancing a 'secret program' to develop nuclear weapons. The U.S. intelligence community assesses that Iran is not actively pursuing a nuclear weapon. Secondly, the Israeli official said, Iran has thousands of ballistic missiles. Finally, he said Iran has been distributing weapons and arms to proxy groups across the region, like Hezbollah and Hamas. Update: Date: 2025-06-13 00:52:03 Title: Iran halted flights at Imam Khomeini International Airport outside of Tehran, state TV says Content: Iran has closed its airspace in the past when launching previous attacks against Israel during the Israel-Hamas war. Update: Date: 2025-06-13 00:44:50 Title: Trump on White House lawn as explosions begin Content: As the explosions in Tehran started, President Donald Trump was on the lawn of the White House mingling with members of Congress. It was unclear if he had been informed but the president continued shaking hands and posing for pictures for several minutes. Earlier in the day, Trump said an Israeli attack over Iran's nuclear program was not imminent 'but it looks like it's something that could very well happen.' The U.S. has been preparing for something to happen, pulling some diplomats from Iraq's capital and offering voluntary evacuations for the families of U.S. troops in the wider Middle East. The White House did not have an immediate comment Thursday night.
