As Donald Trump's impeachment inquiry rolls through Congress, leaders around the world must be thinking back to what they've said to the U.S. president in what they presumed were private conversations.
From Ukraine to Italy to the U.K. and Australia, Trump's efforts to solicit help in salvaging his presidency are under ever-increasing scrutiny. Our story out today shows how Trump's ability to sniff out weak spots in others is behind his selective outreach.
More broadly, as one diplomat says, any leader must be prepared for strange and unexpected requests when Trump calls. The trick is to stay positive without committing to anything and to speak guardedly, because the transcript might become public.
We're also seeing how Trump's chats with individual leaders — and his tendency to make policy on the fly — could affect not just the U.S. election. Take Turkey, which may invade Syria after he effectively gave Recep Tayyip Erdogan a green light over the phone.
The president's actions risk sowing policy confusion — read here for Nick Wadhams' and Glen Carey's take on that.
And they may have unintended consequences. As Marc Champion reports, Trump's pledged withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria would leave Moscow dealing with Turkey, a weaker and more compliant player.
The president says the move is a "win" for America. But it could be a "win-win" where Russia benefits, too.
- Rosalind Mathieson
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