Published on July 17, 2018 by Gary Grappo

Trump’s Disgraceful Capitulation in Helsinki

Published first at Fair Observer on July 17, 2018

America’s interests — not to mention image — took a major hit in Helsinki during the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Last month at the G7 summit in Quebec, Canada, and last week at the NATO Summit in Brussels and during his UK visit, US President Donald Trump went […]

FO° Talks: America’s New Fast-Changing Role in the Middle East, Part 1

August 25, 2024 By Gary Grappo

After World War II, the need to ensure that no single country controlled access to the region’s rich reserves of fossil fuels underscored US diplomacy in and led US diplomats to the Middle East. While the US forged an alliance with Saudi Arabia, the British had thrown their hat in with Iran. The US proved […]

FO° Talks: America’s New Fast-Changing Role in the Middle East (Part 2)

August 25, 2024 By Gary Grappo

The United States’ role in the Middle East took a turn in the early 2000s after the Bush administration’s War on Terror. The disastrous US invasion of Iraq changed the public perception of the US’ role in the region and the world. While the Obama administration attempted to pivot to Asia, the 2011 Arab Spring, […]

What Happens Now That the Iranian President Is Dead?

June 1, 2024 By Gary Grappo

The recent death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash has created uncertainty regarding the nation’s future. Gary Grappo, a retired US diplomat with extensive regional experience, provides insight into the potential implications. The president is a figurehead, and the immediate effects will be minimal. Still, Raisi’s death highlights the instability of the […]

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Trump’s Disgraceful Capitulation in Helsinki