War of the American Succession
France, the UK, Romania, Mexico, Canada, Pakistan, and South Sudan.
The five things you need to know today:
FRANCE. BRITAIN. The battle is on for the next leader of the free world.
ROMANIA. An alleged coup plot thickens.
MEXICO. CANADA. Trump shows again this has nothing to do with trade.
PAKISTAN. Closer cooperation with Washington doesn't count for much.
SOUTH SUDAN. Threats of a civil war as the president goes after his deputy.
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FRANCE. BRITAIN. Entre nous
The battle is on for the next leader of the free world.
The EU agreed to new defence plans Thursday, while Emmanuel Macron said Moscow’s comparisons between him and Napoleon were "pique". Ireland said it would "do anything" to help UK-EU ties after London held more talks on Ukraine.
INTELLIGENCE. Macron and Keir Starmer are stepping up but will need to take care not to step on each other's toes. The two are working together on a package for Ukraine, but behind this lies a contest to see who can lead European defence in a post-NATO world (Trump said Thursday if members "don't pay" the US won't defend them). Germany and, to a lesser extent, Poland also harbour ambitions but will likely swing behind France and Britain, respectively.
FOR BUSINESS. The UK and France have been allies since 1904 but were reliable enemies beforehand. Differing visions of leadership could revive historic tensions, as will the ongoing contest for who will take Europe's economic crown, but the competition will be healthy for a region only waking from a post-1989 slumber. Paris has the benefit of being in the EU, but London has the benefit of being outside it. And Starmer, unlike Macron, controls his parliament.
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ROMANIA. High stakes
An alleged coup plot thickens.
Romania detained six on charges of plotting to overthrow the state and raided the home of a 101-year-old ex-general linked to a group called the "Vlad the Impaler Command”. Russia's military attaché was declared persona non grata.
INTELLIGENCE. The moves come alongside the upholding of preventative measures against presidential frontrunner