The Globalist Tuesday 30 December
Dec 30, 2025
Ruth Michelson, a Middle East correspondent, discusses the recent Trump-Netanyahu meeting, revealing the lack of concrete steps towards a Gaza ceasefire and the focus on disarming Hamas. Ryuma Takahashi shares insights on the evolving Asian security landscape and the Taiwan-China situation, noting rising tensions. Zoe Grunwald dives into UK's political debates, including the implications of Alaa Abdel Fattah’s return and the contentious invitation of far-right AFD to a security conference. Lastly, Petri Anttsoff rounds up Nordic news from storm impacts to tourist campaigns.
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Florida Meeting Yielded Form Over Substance
- Trump’s meeting with Netanyahu produced no concrete steps toward the Gaza ceasefire second phase.
- Ruth Michelson says the encounter chiefly framed pressure on Hamas, benefiting Netanyahu politically.
Disarmament Framing Favors Israel
- Trump emphasised pressure on Hamas to disarm while offering few implementation details.
- Ruth Michelson notes this framing shifts burden onto Israel’s enemies rather than Israeli actions.
Ambiguous Threats Toward Iran
- Trump raised the possibility of action against Iran without clarifying specifics.
- Ruth Michelson highlights the meeting lacked tangible security guarantees or limits on Israel’s regional actions.