The Foreign Desk The best of the Explainer 2025
Jan 3, 2026
In 2025, a potential gift of a Boeing 747 from Qatar to Donald Trump raises eyebrows over legal and security implications. The strategy behind this gesture reveals Qatar's efforts to exercise soft power in the U.S. Meanwhile, an undersea cable cut near Taiwan sparks suspicions of sabotage linked to China. Europe's recent incidents of cable damage lead to NATO's increased patrols. On a different front, Marine Le Pen's conviction ignites a populist rallying cry across Europe, exemplifying the complex dynamics of far-right politics. Finally, a quirky dispute over former Zambian president Edgar Lungu's funeral adds intrigue to political rivalries.
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Small State, Grand Strategy
- Qatar uses high-profile gifts and institutions to secure powerful international friends and influence.
- Andrew Mueller explains Doha pursues a 'roaring mouse' strategy to survive and prosper amid regional threats.
Gifts Carry Risks
- Gifted assets from foreign states create legal and security problems for US presidents.
- Andrew Mueller notes a Qatari plane would pose emoluments issues and huge espionage risks on a 747.
Cable Cuts Look Like Sabotage
- Repeated undersea cable cuts around Taiwan suggest deliberate sabotage rather than accidents.
- Andrew Mueller links these incidents to a campaign of intimidation with plausible deniability and broader patterns in other regions.