Hello,
Here are the five things you need to know today:
ISRAEL. PALESTINE. Trump’s Gaza proposal seems unserious.
UNITED STATES. More tariff and shutdown threats send gold soaring.
THAILAND. The new prime minister leaves reform to someone else.
AFGHANISTAN. As Kabul goes dark, unanswered questions loom.
MADAGASCAR. Gen Z protests claim another government.
And don’t forget to connect with me on LinkedIn.
⏰ Just one day left to lock in your subscription at 25% off our normal price ⏰
This offer is only for September. Get access to all five daily briefings, five days a week, as relied on by leaders and investors across 150 countries.
ISRAEL. PALESTINE. Bored of peace
Trump’s Gaza proposal seems unserious.
Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to a US peace plan Monday, backed by Arab states, where a “Board of Peace”, led by Donald Trump, would oversee the development of a “New Gaza”. Gazan clans refused to join Israel against Hamas, media said.
INTELLIGENCE. The plan is essentially that proposed by Tony Blair, but with Trump in the role as viceroy. Israel and Arab states were never going to oppose it, but it’s still unlikely to get off the ground, giving Hamas not just another reason to dig in but a chance at further internationalising its cause. And as a European aid flotilla makes its way to Gaza and further Houthi strikes reach Israel (and Red Sea shipping), there’s a risk of direct blowback for Washington.
FOR BUSINESS. Trump has said he’s sick of the war, but in failing to hold Netanyahu to a truce, no amount of clever marketing will earn him a Nobel Prize. While the current plan, unlike previous proposals, doesn’t involve ethnic cleansing, few Gazans will support US occupation. Few Americans will support it too if US troops are required or US firms end up boycotted alongside Israel’s. Starbucks last week denied its decision to shut 400 stores was over Gaza.
Geopolitical Dispatch is the client briefing of Geopolitical Strategy. Learn more about how we can help you to map, monitor and manage geopolitical risks.
UNITED STATES. Seen this film before
More tariff and shutdown threats send gold soaring.
JD Vance said the US was headed to a shutdown after talks with Democrats broke down. Donald Trump posted a dubbed video of Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries outside the White House, describing themselves as “woke pieces of shit.”
INTELLIGENCE. In their real press remarks, where Jeffries did not wear a sombrero,
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Geopolitical Dispatch to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.