Gokul Sahni

“the death of old certainties understandably represents a moment of grief and reckoning for Europe. However, for the great majority of countries… many of which form a part of the Global South—precariousness has been a defining feature of geopolitical and geoeconomic life.” 1/3

“Now is the time for Europe to retire its old superiority complex &amp; embrace the opportunity to learn from its former colonies, some of which have (over decades &amp; centuries) developed the art of surviving–even thriving–in a world of whimsical, sometimes Nero-esque, great powers.”

“time for European countries to engage in some self-reflection and address the demons within their own polities. For instance, there are vocal &amp; growing minorities in European societies that find resonance with the Trump administration’s stance on immigration and immigrants.” 3/3

“Inside the citadel, the hordes are incinerating America’s traditions of law, civility and restraint. The civic-minded cry in the wilderness. Measured by the old era’s conventions, US President Donald Trump’s bonfire is only a quarter of the way through.” 1/8

“Trump is rebranding the US as his own. As America prepares to commemorate its 250th anniversary, the republic is flirting with its own funeral.” 2/8

“Fate will decide what becomes of Trump. He could get to the point where he loses his grip over the 2028 succession. He could just as equally bury America’s constitutional order and claim a third term into his mid-eighties.” 3/8

“How should rational planners — American and foreign alike — respond to whatever Trump throws at them? They have little chance of success unless they see him for what he is. No ideological code can fully capture his actions.” 4/8

“Trumpism is whatever he chooses it to be even as he contradicts himself. The key thus lies in Trump’s psychology, which has never been a mystery. His character is hidden in plain sight.” 5/8

“For those belatedly ready to see today’s abyss for what it is, here once again is Trump’s worldview. Life is a battle in which one person wins and the other loses. Everyone else, including his henchmen and America’s allies, is the other person.” 6/8

“A zero-sum world permits no room for sentiment or friends. Opponents earn respect. Loyalty is for fools. Rivals might win or lose, depending on their hand. China has been the biggest winner of Trump’s second term so far — and has earned his respect.” 7/8

“The lesson for America’s friends is clear. Flattering Trump will earn his contempt. The world should study the fate of Canada’s Mark Carney. Alone among allies so far, the Canadian prime minister is responding to the reality of America’s deranged turn.” 8/8

“Some commentators pronounced it “Peak Modi”. Would-be successors began to plot.

Today things look rather different. Mr Modi’s coalition has won a string of state elections and the opposition is in disarray. His government has rediscovered its zeal.” 1/9

“it announced a much-needed simplification of India’s goods-and-services taxes and overhauled its Byzantine labour laws. It is deregulating the nuclear industry, promoting a booming electronics sector and striking trade deals. India’s economy is outperforming expectations.” 2/9

“Mr Modi, who at 75 has already been in the highest office for almost 12 years, is now expected to run again in 2029. The prime minister has his eye on Jawaharlal Nehru’s record time in office, which he would surpass in 2031. And he is thinking about his legacy.” 3/9

“has focused his movement on the idea of making India strong. He has been helped by a tough external environment. In May, following a.. terrorist attack.. India fought a 4-day air-&amp;-missile conflict with Pakistan. That allowed the prime minister to play the patriotic strongman.”

“You might think Mr Modi would be blamed for mishandling India’s biggest trading partner. Yet most Indians approve of the way he has stood up to Mr Trump. And he has used pressure from abroad as a pretext for reform.” 5/9

“In all this, Mr Modi’s coalition has proved surprisingly stable. As small regional parties, his partners have largely been happy to offer loyalty in exchange for patronage. They may have curbed the bjp’s instincts in some areas, such as on the uniform civil code.” 6/9

“Rahul Gandhi, leader of the Congress party, offers a different explanation. He alleges that the government has committed “vote chori”, or voter fraud… Yet Mr Gandhi has not presented evidence of widespread fraud, nor have analysts found a smoking gun.” 7/9

“The accusation risks becoming a crutch for Congress. By any standard Mr Modi remains a genuinely popular leader, approved of by some 70% of Indians. Mr Gandhi has failed to build on the result in 2024 by developing either a compelling critique or.. platform of his own.” 8/9

“for now Mr Modi is ascendant. The hope must be that the prime minister sees boosting the economy as the best way to secure his legacy. If he does, his third term could do much to improve the lives of Indians by setting the country on a still faster road to growth.” 9/9