Politics Weekly UK Kidnapping and chaos: welcome to Trump’s world
11 snips
Jan 8, 2026 
This week, Dan Sabbagh, the Guardian’s defence and security editor, dives into the chaotic aftermath of Venezuelan President Maduro’s kidnapping by the US. He discusses Trump’s unconventional foreign policy, viewing international relations as transactional deals. The conversation highlights the strategic implications of seizing oil tankers and the potential fallout in Venezuela, while pondering the uncertain future of NATO amidst shifting loyalties and military strategies. Greenland's resources also come into play as a focal point of geopolitical tension.
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Rules And Alliances Look Stripped Back
- The podcast argues global rules and dependable alliances feel eroded and transactional.
- Power and money now drive geopolitics more openly, leaving fear and uncertainty.
Trump's Transactional Worldview
- Kiran Stacey highlights Trump's transactional, deal-driven worldview and hemispheric ambitions.
- He frames great powers as carving spheres of influence for strategic and economic gain.
Spectacle Over Strategy Risks Chaos
- Dan Sabbagh argues Trump uses military force as spectacle to achieve quick, cheap results.
- Short, dramatic actions risk chaos rather than long-term nation-building.