Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- July 9, 2019

Hunter DeRensis and Matthew Petti, National Interest: Cruel Britannia: The Row Between Trump and the Ambassador

Washington’s special relationship with London just got a little more “special.”

President Donald Trump announced in a Monday afternoon Twitter salvo on that he would “no longer deal with” British ambassador Kim Darroch, who had criticized the president as “uniquely dysfunctional” in recently leaked comments from 2017. British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt responded that Trump’s comments were “disrespectful and wrong.” He added that if he becomes prime minister, then “our ambassador stays.” With his comments, Hunt waded into the mounting controversy over Darroch's remarks. But at a moment when Britain is flailing in its attempt to reach a sucesssful Brexit, the pound continues to sink, and a leadership crisis has engulfed the Tory party, the dispute with Trump comes at a particularly awkward moment for the United Kingdom. It would appear to confirm rather than ease apprehensions about Whitehall's ability to conduct diplomacy successfully. Perhaps Boris Johnson, who is the leading candidate to become prime minister, can restore the special relationship and strike a trade deal with Trump. But for now, relations look like they will be rockier than ever.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- July 9, 2019

Ambassador row: Donald Trump not in a mood to let this pass -- Patrick Wintour, The Guardian

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt was half-right in his attack on Trump -- Tom Rogan, Washington Examiner

Were Afghan peace talks in Qatar a success? -- Masood Saifullah, DW

Afghanistan is sick of waking up bombings and ambushes -- Donald D. Harvel, The Hill

Caught between US and Iran, Europe struggles with diplomacy -- David Rising, AP

Eight questions to ask before considering war with Iran -- Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Dennis Laich, The Hill

Qatar is helping Iran. Trump has the leverage to force a change — but will he? -- Gen. Charles Wald, NBC

Sultan shines in the court of the Dragon King -- Pepe Escobar, Asia Times

How China can win a ‘trade war’ between Japan and South Korea -- Lee Jeong-ho, SCMP

The Greatest Show on Earth: Trump's Trade Talks with China -- Doug Bandow, National Interest

Unfulfilled promises have fuelled anger in Hong Kong -- Stephen Vines, Al Jazeera

Hong Kong needs to learn from past if it is to move forward -- SCMP editorial

America Should Support Russia’s Efforts Against Glorifying Nazism -- Anatoly Antonov, National Interest

Alexander Lukashenko: No end in sight for Belarus strongman -- Roman Goncharenko, DW

Alexis Tsipras: leader won respect abroad but lost support at home -- Daniel Boffey, The Guardian

Volkswagen's last Beetle is rolling off the factory floor this week -- ABC News Online