Putin’s play for an Indonesian airbase was always likely to fail – but Russia has wider ambitions

Russia remains a key arms supplier in South-east Asia, and Trump’s unstable leadership is providing more opportunities to make inroadsA defence industry report claiming that Russia requested a permanent base for its warplanes in Indonesia’s remote Papu...

Continue ReadingPutin’s play for an Indonesian airbase was always likely to fail – but Russia has wider ambitions

Can we stop pretending a trade deal with Trump will be a gamechanger for the UK. It won’t | Martin Kettle

I’m not saying Britain should refuse every sort of free trade agreement with the US, but there may be options that better suit Labour’s purposeIt’s a deal. The words sound good. Most human beings are primed to think of a deal as desirable in itself. It...

Continue ReadingCan we stop pretending a trade deal with Trump will be a gamechanger for the UK. It won’t | Martin Kettle