The Business Times
business-time-50

Middle powers will keep ganging up against the US

Nations can no longer take America’s good faith for granted, so they must seek security with one another

Summarise
google-preferred-sourceAdd BT as a preferred source
阅读简体中文版 (beta)
    • Donald Trump has spent much of his first term and all of his second offending, menacing or humiliating America’s traditional partners.
    • Donald Trump has spent much of his first term and all of his second offending, menacing or humiliating America’s traditional partners. PHOTO: EPA

    Andreas Kluth

    Published Wed, Jul 22, 2026 · 06:00 PM

    SAY you’re the leader of the planet’s most powerful country and you’ve spent a year and a half hazing almost the whole world. How does the world respond?

    With boos, if the venue is Sunday’s final of the football world cup. Here was US President Donald Trump, hosting – well, technically co-hosting, along with the leaders of Canada and Mexico – the fans and players of Spain and Argentina, middle powers in geopolitics but superpowers on the pitch.

    But when Trump emerged from his bulletproof VIP lounge to present the gilded trophy to the Spaniards – and then awkwardly tried to photobomb their victory portrait – the stadium hissed and jeered. Some spectators could be seen flipping him the bird.

    US-Asia relationsUS-UK relationsUS-China tradeUS-Europe relationsTrump administrationDiplomacy

    TRENDING NOW

    Ng Khee Siong joined Inchcape in 2019; he was confirmed as managing director in November 2023.

    Ng Khee Siong, managing director of Borneo Motors parent Inchcape Singapore, resigns

    Employees may grumble about long hours, difficult clients or demanding deadlines, but often the biggest push factor is how they are treated.

    What makes a good job? Feeling that you matter

    Although aluminium’s price has eased recently on the expected return of Middle Eastern supply, analysts believe that it is likely to remain elevated in the near term.

    Resilient aluminium prices set to boost Asia’s smelters over global rivals: analysts

    As at June, central banks were still buying gold, which reinforces its role as a reserve asset outside the US dollar system, according to a report by HSBC.

    Gold has fallen over 20% since 2026’s peak – but is it a ‘buy’? Here are the latest target prices

    Latest T-bills Treasury Bills Results & Interest NewsLatest SSB Singapore Savings Bonds NewsLatest COE Certificate of Entitlement News
    Latest Johor-Singapore SEZ NewsLatest BTO Build To Order & Sales of Balance NewsLatest STI Straits Times Index NewsLatest SGX Dividends, Share Price NewsLatest Bonds Market NewsLatest Singapore Stocks To Buy NewsLatest Singapore Economy News
    View More