Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 2, 2017

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks by phone with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S. January 28, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

David Tweed, Bloomberg: Trump Twitter Bursts Throw Decades-Old Alliances Into Chaos

* Abe, Turnbull, Merkel all forced to defend against Trump barbs
* New Pentagon chief Mattis is in East Asia reassuring on ties

For the first time in decades, America’s oldest allies are questioning where Washington’s heart is.

This week, President Donald Trump and his deputies hit out at some of America’s closest friends, blasting a “dumb” refugee resettlement deal with Australia and accusing Japan and Germany of manipulating their currencies. Ties with Mexico have deteriorated to the point its government had to deny reports that Trump told President Enrique Pena Nieto he might send U.S. troops across the southern border.

“When you hear about the tough phone calls I have, don’t worry about it,” Trump said to an audience of religious and political leaders at the National Prayer Breakfast, a yearly event in Washington. “The world is in trouble -- but we’re going to straighten it out, OK? That’s what I do.”

Read more ....

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 2, 2017

Trump's Attack on Germany and the Global Economy -- Spiegel Online

Trump team building a wall inside National Security Council -- Gregory Hellman and Bryan Bender, Politico

Rockets Fly As Donetsk Returns To Darkest Days Of War -- Pierre Vaux, Daily Beast

How uncertainty over Trump is fueling Ukraine's latest deadly violence -- Fred Weir, CSM

As America and Russia talk, Ukraine fights -- The Economist

Eastern Ukraine conflict: A new, bloody chapter -- Tom Burridge, BBC

The Flare-Up in Ukraine Is Not Just About Putin -- Leonid Bershidsky, Bloomberg

Poland Takes on Russia -- Antonia Colibasanu, Geopolitical Futures

Can Moscow Make Peace in Syria? -- Kevin Sullivan, RCD

Saudis hopeful but wary about Trump -- Bruce Riedel, Al-Monitor

Islamabad: Incubator for Islamist Insurgents, Inc. -- Robert Cassidy, RCD

How will Pakistan fare with the new US administration? -- Rashmee Roshan Lall, The National

Will AU members really withdraw from the ICC? -- Sella Oneko, DW

Libya’s state vacuum sucks in foreign powers and exports migrants -- Tony Barber, Financial Times

Hunting for evidence, Secret Service unlocks phone data with force or finesse -- Aliya Sternstein, CSM

Petraeus: World order under 'unprecedented threat' -- Rebecca Kheel, The Hill