Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- March 12, 2018

Ramesh Thakur, Project Syndicate: Could the Trump-Kim Summit Succeed?

The Kim-Trump summit is an opportunity that will be difficult to seize and easy to squander. For example, if Trump decertifies the Iran nuclear deal on May 12, ahead of the summit, the move would almost certainly call into question America’s good faith and ability to honor negotiated international agreements.

CANBERRA – Last year, North Korea’s Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump were hurling kindergarten insults at each other – “Rocket Man is on a suicide mission,” said Trump of Kim; “mentally deranged US dotard,” Kim retorted – while threatening to reduce East Asia to a post-atomic wasteland. Now, in a stunning and dramatic development, the two are to meet by May. Kim reportedly is willing to denuclearize and eager to talk directly to Trump, who has agreed.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- March 12, 2018

Tough Diplomacy Is America's Best Bet with North Korea -- Nirav S. Patel & Abraham M. Denmark, National Interest

What critics of North Korea summit get wrong -- Peter Van Buren, Reuters

For China, One Of The Greatest Risks Of Trump-Kim Talks Is Being Sidelined -- Bonnie S. Glaser, NPR

Bitterly divided Hong Kong returns to polls -- Asia Times

China crypto national currency ‘inevitable’ -- Richard Cook, Asia Times

How Will New Zealand Navigate the New Era in Asia? -- Ed Kennedy, The Diplomat

The Afghan Taliban's Deceptive Peace Initiative -- Marvin G. Weinbaum & Samad Sadri, National Interest

ISIS alive and well in the Philippines -- Bong S Sarmiento, Asia Times

The Iranian People 'Appear to Be Losing their Fear' -- John Nixon, The Cipher Brief

Can Europe save the Iran nuclear deal? -- Dalia Dassa Kaye & James Dobbins, Reuters

South Sudan: Buying off elites to stop fighting won’t work. Here’s what might -- Daniel Akech Thiong, African Arguments

Is Putin popular? -- Jay Nordlinger, National Review

Why Vladimir Putin's 'fake' election matters and what will happen next -- James Glenday, ABC News Online

Moldova: Stepping Out of Europe’s Grey Zone -- Agnia Grigas, America's Interest

Venezuela's Meltdown Comes At Convenient Time For OPEC -- Dan Eberhart, Forbes