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The US, Ukraine, Russia, Venezuela, the South China Sea, and Islamic State.
Hello,
Here are the five things you need to know today:
UNITED STATES. Arctic paratroopers would be wasted in Minnesota.
UKRAINE. RUSSIA. Trump invites Putin to the Board of Peace.
VENEZUELA. Efforts at foreign investment may bring back old friends.
SOUTH CHINA SEA. As the Lincoln departs, the drones arrive.
ISLAMIC STATE. A changing world order revives a familiar threat.
Geopolitical Dispatch is a daily strategic briefing for business leaders and investors, based on the US Presidential Daily Brief. Covering five top global developments at 5am Eastern Time, Geopolitical Dispatch gives you visibility of events in context.
UNITED STATES. Coldest comfort
Arctic paratroopers would be wasted in Minnesota.
Tensions rose with Minnesota as 1,500 troops from the 11th Airborne were told to prepare to deploy. NORAD aircraft were sent to Pituffik. Donald Trump told Norway’s prime minister he no longer felt “an obligation to think purely of peace”.
INTELLIGENCE. Trump has threatened to use the Insurrection Act in Minnesota, where ICE has arrested hundreds and at least two have been killed. Yet the Pentagon’s source of army reinforcements – two specialist battalions from Alaska – suggests other theatres in mind. Alongside the NORAD deployment, ostensibly routine, the order will be read by Europe as another sign of intent, similar to November’s deployment of the USS Gerald Ford to the Caribbean.
FOR BUSINESS. Minnesota is cold, but the Arctic Angels are a scarce resource Washington wouldn’t normally use in a domestic context. Either uniformed moderates want to take them offline to deter a Greenland invasion, or that is what Trump has in mind, with Minnesota being an implied threat, ruse, or staging post (flying to Greenland over the Arctic or Canada would simply alert others). After a call with NATO’s Mark Rutte, Trump agreed to a meeting in Davos.
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UKRAINE. RUSSIA. Peace of the pie
Trump invites Putin to the Board of Peace.
Moscow said Monday it was “studying” Vladimir Putin’s invitation to join Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace”. Kremlin negotiator Kirill Dmitriev would meet Trump’s delegation at Davos, Reuters said, as would representatives from Ukraine.
INTELLIGENCE. Kyiv's negotiators will extend weekend talks with Steve Witkoff and