President Trump holds a meeting with the Middle East Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) an assembly of mid-east allies for President Trump and the overall effort to bring peace and stability to the region.  Obviously, the number one concern of the assembly is the ongoing Iran conflict.

Leaders from Lebanon, Iraq, Qatar, Jordan, Turkey, Syria, Kuwait and Egypt were in attendance for the meeting.

.

(more…)

President Trump emphasizes the importance of the western hemisphere and Latin America by participating in a second meeting of the “Shield of Americas” team.  The objective of the assembly is to secure the western hemisphere, coordinate economic, political, and security efforts among participating countries to strengthen judicial practices, improve investment opportunities, and build hemispheric partnerships. The shield emphasizes intelligence sharing and coordinated operations to locate and dismantle drug cartel networks and associated criminal infrastructure.

Structure and Operations: The Shield of the Americas functions as a head-of-state level organization, working closely with the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (A3C), which is led by USSOUTHCOM and focuses on military and security operations against cartels. The coalition’s operational arm, the Americas Counter Cartel Conference, brings together defense and security ministers from member states to coordinate strategies against drug trafficking, organized crime, and threats to critical infrastructure. Participating countries gain access to U.S. military equipment, training, intelligence, and surveillance capabilities, including support from the U.S. Space Force’s Tactical Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Tracking system.

.

(more…)

President Trump and President Zelenskyy meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly for a bilateral meeting.

During the press availability, President Trump noted the war banter from the U.K leadership was “too nasty” and not productive toward any ceasefire deal between Ukraine and Russia. President Trump was asked about a potential U.S. diesel export ban and Trump said he supports it, but Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was reviewing the feasibility of it.

The question not ever raised, except by USTR Jamieson Greer yesterday, is: where do you store it?  We can stop exporting diesel, but we’d also have to stop producing it because there’s nowhere to store it – and limiting production only adds to increased prices.  Russia had that same problem (see previous article).  Trump was asked about Patriot Missiles for Ukraine, which he said were part of the discussion happening after the press availability. WATCH:

.

(more…)

There is a general rule that applies to geopolitical contexts surrounding 96 hours or four days.  The timing is the difference between an event happening Day one, the analysis of the event by nation states communicated to leadership, and the policy shift outcome in Day four.  The rule of 96 is consistent and it is worth understanding.

Four days ago, the EU oil disruption from Saudi Arabia’s East/West pipeline event was noticed. In the four days between event day and policy day (#4) the EU have been beating the drumbeat for war against Russia.  However, you will notice the shift in tone and policy now that we have reached day four.  Analysis has reached policy makers. You might say reality sets in.

Europe now recognizes a vulnerability that was not in their policy briefs 96 hours earlier.  Things change {SOURCE}, and the quiet stuff starts to become visible. Russia has been sending France oil/gas energy products, quietly. Macron needed the internal stabilization because he’s been up against a wall.  On top of all his other issues, Macron could not afford an energy crisis.

Simultaneously, despite what we have been told by Western media, the 5,000 strike drones into the Moscow region should again be taken in context.  Russia is an analog system in a digital world. Russia is exceptionally resilient and can repair and recover much faster than western analysts ever fathom.  Again, apply the ‘rule of 96.’

Russia is now overproducing diesel fuel. Wait, what(?) you might ask.  It’s true.  Russian strategic diesel fuel reserves are now full and overproducing 15% beyond storage capacity. {SOURCE} So, where is the excess capacity going?  To the “stans” in Central Asia, from there it ships to forward destinations. Turkey is a dependent beneficiary. Do you remember the strategic agreement between the USA and Kazakhstan? {Source}

Russia increased diesel supplies to Mongolia by 73.4% in August from July to 215,000 metric tons, while shipments to Kyrgyzstan surged 16.4 times to 72,000 tons and deliveries to Tajikistan rose 3.5 times to 56,000 tons. Russia also exported 28,000 tons of diesel to Kazakhstan after making no deliveries there in July. {source}

(more…)

United Kingdom Prime Minister Andy Burnham and US President Donald Trump say they have established a good connection in their first meeting, despite differences on some foreign policy issues.

Talks as described covered Ukraine, Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, the Falkland Islands, and trade issues with Trump praising Burnham as a “natural businessperson.” President Trump was critical of the British plan to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, calling it a “terrible deal,” while Burnham pledged to find a solution.  WATCH:

.

(more…)

President Donald Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen will take part in a signing ceremony at the United Nations for an agreement that will bolster the U.S. military presence in Greenland forever sealing a Arctic security agreement for the U.S.  WATCH (Livestream):

.

(more…)

President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver remarks to the United Nations General Assembly (USGA) at approximately 9:55am ET.  There are multiple livestream options below to watch the speech.

UPDATE: Video Added

.

(more…)

In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and Presidency.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

(more…)

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

.

(more…)

President Donald Trump’s Tuesday schedule in New York at the U.N. General Assembly:

NEW YORK CITY:

9:55 AM: President Trump delivers remarks to the United Nations General Assembly

10:40 AM: President Trump participates in a trilateral signing with the Prime Ministers of Denmark and Greenland

11:45 AM: President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain

12:30 PM: President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Japan

12:45 PM: The First Lady delivers remarks on expanding Fostering the Future Together

1:15 PM: President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with the President of Ukraine

2:15 PM: President Trump participates in a Shield of the Americas event

2:45 PM: President Trump holds a multilateral meeting with the Gulf Cooperation Council

7:15 PM: President Trump participates in an UNGA leaders’ reception

7:40 PM: President Trump holds a pull-aside meeting with the Acting President of Venezuela

(more…)