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Quick Take
In this Quick Take, Ian Bremmer weighs in on the Trump-Xi meeting in South Korea calling it “a truce, not a breakthrough.”
He explains, “It stabilizes the relationship… it brings us closer back to where we were before.” Key agreements include a one-year suspension of recent Chinese restrictions on rare earths, lowered tariffs, and renewed US soybean purchases.
But Ian notes that “there is still very much a movement longer term towards decoupling,” especially around tech.
While President Trump’s demolition of the White House East Wing dominates the headlines, Ian Bremmer says bigger stories are being overlooked.
Chief among them is Trump’s pardon of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, whose crypto platform underpins the Trump family’s digital currency. “The fact that this stinks to high heaven is of zero concern to Trump,” Ian says. “It makes the administration look like it’s for sale.”
There’s also Trump’s new 10% tariff on Canada, in retaliation for a Reagan clip aired by Ontario in US markets. “It’s a farce,” Ian adds. “There’s clearly no national emergency here.”
A landmark moment in the Middle East: All 20 remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas have been released, and a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas has been signed—brokered by President Trump.
Ian Bremmer calls it “a big win” for the president. “He had leverage, and he used it,” Ian says. “It’s much better to say your president succeeded than failed—and this is a success.”
The deal, backed by Egypt, Turkey, and Gulf states, halts two years of fighting. But as Ian notes, “lasting peace will depend on reconstruction, governance, and whether both sides can hold to their word.”
After two years of war in Gaza, a ceasefire and peace deal may finally be within reach, and Ian Bremmer says former President Trump deserves credit for.
“Trump has announced an agreement on a Gaza ceasefire,” Ian explains. “It’s not done yet, but it’s a big deal.” With help from advisors Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, and Marco Rubio and quiet backing from Gulf states, Trump has reportedly convinced Hamas to release 48 hostages and Israel to scale back operations.
“If it happens,” Ian says, “it’s a breakthrough that Biden, the Gulf, and Europe couldn’t deliver. And that deserves recognition.”
The US economy looks unstoppable, with booming markets, surging productivity, and foreign investment pouring in. In this Quick Take, Ian Bremmer warns that short-term success may hide long-term dangers.
“I’m worried about immigration, education, and energy,” he says.
From deterring skilled immigrants to undermining world-class universities and lagging behind China on post-carbon energy, the US risks trading future competitiveness for temporary gains.
“The United States remains the most powerful country in the world,” Ian notes, “but that power comes from its economy and military, not its political system. And that’s a long-term problem.”
“The UAE saying they’d leave the Abraham accords … that’s a consequence that matters,” Ian notes.
President Trump has also called West Bank annexation a “red line,” while European nations weigh boycotts, visa restrictions, and other steps that could leave Israelis feeling isolated. All this has the potential to undermine Netanyahu’s upcoming election chances.
“The elections won’t be about a Palestinian state, but they might be about Israel’s isolation.”
In this Quick Take, Ian Bremmer unpacks a tense UN High-Level Week dominated by Israel-Palestine.
“The two state solution…is dead,” Ian argues, with Netanyahu’s government opposing it and Europe shifting to recognition of Palestinian statehood.
At home, Israelis largely oppose a two state deal but “don’t want a forever war.” They want hostages freed and troops out which Ian says isn’t what the Israeli leadership is doing.
The pivotal question: will Netanyahu move toward formal West Bank annexation? Ian warns of sharp backlash from the UAE and says “many European states would start to put punitive, direct, bilateral economic measures… restrict investment and the like into Israel.”