World in the past week: Trust is fractured.
(Baonghean.vn) - President Donald Trump abruptly ended negotiations on a Covid-19 relief package with the Democrats, despite the deteriorating US economy. This unexpected change could be a major blow to his re-election prospects. Turkey's strong support for Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has set it apart from other major powers, especially as relations between Türkiye and Russia are more challenging than ever.
TURN YOUR BACK ON THE AMERICANS
“I have instructed my representatives to stop negotiating until after the election. As soon as I win, we will pass the economic stimulus bill for hard-working Americans and small businesses,” President Trump wrote on Twitter shortly after the election.leave the hospitalTreatment for Covid-19.
President Trump cited House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's demands on state and local governments as the primary reason for withdrawing from negotiations. Pelosi had demanded an increase in weekly unemployment benefits and refundable tax credits for low-income workers, among other provisions.
For her part, Pelosi rejected Trump's comments, saying he would lose the upcoming election and that Congress would pass economic stimulus measures.
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| US President Donald Trump has decided to halt negotiations on a pandemic relief package. Photo: Reuters |
"The president is turning his back on the people."
Prior to this decision, not only Democratic lawmakers, but even Republicans spoke out against President Trump, and suggested that it was necessary.relief packageEven greater measures were needed to help the millions who lost their jobs during the Covid-19 crisis, in which the US was the hardest-hit country in the world. Republican Senator Susan Collins called President Trump's decision to end negotiations "a huge mistake." Meanwhile, Democratic candidate Joe Biden – President Trump's opponent in the November election – tweeted: "The President is turning his back on the people."
This unexpected shift could be a major blow to President Trump's re-election prospects. This action means that Trump and the Republicans must...seeking opportunities for re-electionwithout providing aid to voters, even as the national unemployment rate is around 8%. Furthermore, the American leader is currently in isolation at the White House after contracting Covid-19. A series of recent opinion polls show him trailing his opponent Joe Biden by a considerable margin.
President Trump's tweet also rattled Wall Street, sending stocks plummeting by as much as 2% and undermining the very indices he had always boasted about, which were evidence of his success with the economy. The Dow Jones lost more than 500 points in minutes, ending the day down 375 points. The airline industry, which had been hoping for a new bailout package, was hit hard, with the S&P 500 airline sector falling about 3.1%, wiping out modest gains made earlier in the day.
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| Americans are facing a wave of mass unemployment. Photo: Reuters |
Many experts believe that a second stimulus package before the end of 2020 is essential for a sustainable economic recovery. Moody's analyst Mark Zandi stated, "What lawmakers do and don't do in the coming days will have a huge impact on the recovery, while general sentiment is very vulnerable." Furthermore, President Trump's illness and the political tensions of the election season will be unbearable for many. People may lose faith in the economic recovery, cutting back on spending, investment, and hiring.
FINDING YOUR PLACE IN THE WORLD ORDER
For Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, a firm stance is a strategic priority and paramount to bolstering his military strategic flexibility abroad and maintaining domestic support. President Erdogan has described Ankara's support for Azerbaijan as part of Turkey's core mission for "a worthy place in the world order."
Political analysts believe that Türkiye's stance is an attempt to send a subtle threat to Armenia and a cautious message to Russia – which has a defense treaty with Armenia – demonstrating Turkey's confidence in its drone warfare in Syria, Libya, and Iraq.
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| The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh is escalating. Photo: AP |
Russia, the US, and France have led calls for a ceasefire inNagorno-KarabakhHowever, President Erdogan argued that they had ignored the crisis for the past three decades and should not lead peace-building efforts. Erdogan's stance has exacerbated the war of words with France, a country with a large Armenian population.
However, military successes and the flexibility of military forces in various regions of the world have helped his ruling AK party maintain an advantage in domestic opinion polls, despite the currency devaluation that severely hampered the economy due to the pandemic.
Relationship betweenMoscow and AnkaraIt is also at a more difficult stage than ever before. Türkiye's enthusiastic support for Azerbaijan's campaign has put its relationship with Russia to the test.
Türkiye is a close ally of Azerbaijan, while Russia has a defense treaty supporting Armenia and maintains a military base there. Analysts suggest that President Erdogan's approach could give him significant influence in the region. Ankara's reliance on gas imports from Azerbaijan, which increased by 23% in the first half of 2020, is also a driving force behind its strong position in Nagorno-Karabakh.
"President Erdogan is testing President Putin's patience."
But if Ankara acts too aggressively, it risks a strong reaction from Russia – a country with considerable military potential that could attack Turkish interests on multiple fronts. Alexander Dynkin, President of the Institute of World Economy and International Relations at the Russian Academy of Sciences, assessed: “President Erdogan is testing President Putin’s patience. He is making Putin increasingly uncomfortable.”
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| Relations between Russia and Türkiye have gradually moved beyond a warm period, with cracks appearing. Photo: Reuters |
The pandemic and economic downturn do not appear to be a hindrance to Ankara's defense spending. “It’s inappropriate, but we are compelled to do it,” said one official. “Türkiye is competing with the US and Russia in this area. Therefore, we cannot think or act small.” Türkiye has increased its defense spending by 16% this year to $7 billion, equivalent to 5% of its total budget, and its defense budget has increased by nearly 90% in a decade.cross-border campaignActions taken by Türkiye in northern Syria, Iraq, and Libya are a priority for President Erdogan.
The reduced US presence in the region has left vacuums that Türkiye and Russia are seeking to fill. However, close cooperation with Moscow in many areas also means concerns about potentially falling into conflict with Russia.
Relations between Russia and Türkiye have become strained, despite Western indications that Ankara is abandoning the US and NATO allies to cooperate with Moscow. According to a senior official in Ankara, Türkiye is not abandoning NATO to move closer to Russia, but rather is acting as a "lone wolf" confronting Russian pressure in the region.
