Column Rob de Wijk | And the new world leader is: Xi
Coincidence or not, a few days after Trump’s visit to Xi, Putin went to China. Anyone casually observing Putin’s reception would have seen two close friends meeting. But behind the scenes, it was said that Xi and Putin — despite having met more than forty times — do not actually like each other very much, writes Rob de Wijk in his column for Trouw. In early 2022, Putin is said to have assured Xi that he would be able to bring Ukraine under control in no time, thereby dealing the West a massive blow. That is why I was not surprised by the Financial Times report claiming that Xi told Trump Putin might come to regret his war against Ukraine. In my view, Putin already does.
Column Rob de Wijk | Putin is in a tight spot and must now take the first step
Something is brewing in Moscow. According to Putin, the war is progressing crescendo. But appearances are deceptive, writes Rob de Wijk in his column for Trouw. Large-scale offensives have become impossible because of Ukraine’s superiority in drone warfare. It is a snapshot in time heavily influenced by weather conditions, but no one can deny that Ukraine’s drone advantage is causing major headaches for Russian strategists.
Column Rob de Wijk | Western countries are uniting under the EU
The reckless war that President Trump has launched against Iran, with support from Israel, is having predictable consequences, writes Rob de Wijk in his column for Trouw. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is forcing countries in Asia to turn to Russia for oil and fertilizer. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that in this way, the aggressor in the war against Ukraine is being rewarded. But that argument is not resonating in large parts of the world.
