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Time of India
13 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Trump-Munir White House meeting signals strategic calculations amid regional tensions
Danny generated AI Image ISLAMABAD: The meeting between US President Donald J Trump and Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, at the White House on Thursday has set the geopolitical grapevine abuzz, with whispers of backroom deals that could reshape the balance of power in South Asia and far beyond. What began as a one-hour lunch in the Cabinet Room turned into a two-hour marathon meeting that continued in the Oval Office, attended by US secretary of state Marco Rubio, special representative Steve Witkoff, and Pakistan NSA and Inter-Services Intelligence chief, Lt Gen Asim Malik. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) handout flags counter-terrorism, trade, and peace, but the real stakes — against the backdrop of Iran-Israel airstrikes and India-Pakistan tensions — reveal a high-wire act with far-reaching implications. Trump, channeling his trademark deal-maker bravado, now sees Pakistan as a strategic prize. As Israel intensifies strikes on Iran's nuclear sites and Washington edges closer to military escalation, Pakistan's shared border with Iran becomes critical. Sources say Trump privately pressured Munir for airspace access and intelligence on Tehran — leveraging Pakistan's backchannel role as the host of Iran's interests section for the US. In return, he offered advanced weaponry and economic incentives, aiming to lure Islamabad away from China's orbit and Russia's Brics alliance. Trump's push to expand trade in critical minerals, cryptocurrency, AI, and energy is part of a broader strategy to anchor Pakistan within US-led markets and curb China's regional influence. He has also claimed credit for defusing the May 2025 crisis between India and Pakistan. As Pakistan's power broker, Munir brings serious leverage. His military's fight against Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) syncs with US aims in Afghanistan. With ties to Iran and a shared border, Munir can offer covert intelligence or logistical support, though Pakistan's pro-Iran rhetoric caps public alignment. Economically, he can unlock Pakistan's mineral and tech potential for US investors, but treading too far risks Beijing's wrath. On India, Munir's role in brokering the May ceasefire – praised by President Trump – has been framed in Islamabad as a direct rebuttal of New Delhi's allegations of Pakistani involvement in cross-border terrorism. With the country facing severe economic challenges, Munir is believed to have sought US military and financial assistance to modernise Pakistan's armed forces and stabilise its economy. Trump's openness to providing drones or missile defence systems could significantly alter the military balance with India. Munir also reportedly urged Trump to de-escalate growing tensions between Iran and Israel, warning of broader regional instability and citing Pakistan's vocal alignment with Tehran. In a bold diplomatic gesture, Munir extended an invitation for Trump to visit Pakistan, an effort seen as central to reshaping bilateral ties and enhancing Islamabad's global relevance. Timed amid Middle East turmoil and South Asian friction, the Trump-Munir summit is a geopolitical pivot. It signals a fragile US-Pakistan thaw, driven by Washington's ally hunt and Pakistan's economic crunch. For India, it's a call to counter a US strategy cosying up to both rivals while eyeing Iran. Trump's deal-making and Munir's strategic charm aim to reposition Pakistan as a US cornerstone, potentially redrawing South Asia's power map at India's expense. Wednesday's White House talks weren't just diplomacy, they were a bold move in a high-stakes regional chess game.
South China Morning Post
20 hours ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Putin hosts Indonesia's Prabowo in Russia in bid to deepen ties
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto held talks with President Vladimir Putin in the northern Russian city of St Petersburg on Thursday as they explore ways to deepen what some officials have called a burgeoning strategic partnership. The deepening of ties between Russia and Indonesia , part of Moscow's bid to forge new relations with the Global South amid Western attempts to isolate it over the Ukraine war , has perturbed some powers such as Australia. Meeting in the Constantine Palace, Putin noted Indonesia's entry into Brics as a full member and said he was sure it would make a significant contribution to the grouping, which he said was gaining clout in the world. Prabowo thanked Putin for his support over Indonesia's entry to Brics and said that ties between the two countries were improving. Russia and Indonesia's foreign ministers, Sergei Lavrov and Sugiono, speaking in Moscow earlier this week, mentioned a possible strategic partnership between the two countries. Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono (left) and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow. on Tuesday. Photo: dpa Russia has proposed deepening military, security, trade and nuclear ties with Indonesia, which has the world's fourth largest population.
Business Times
21 hours ago
- Business
- Business Times
Indonesia's Prabowo pledges to strengthen ties with Russia
[MOSCOW] Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto pledged to strengthen relations with Russia at a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Ties between the two nations are developing 'extremely actively,' he said in St Petersburg at the start of their talks on Thursday (Jun 19). Putin highlighted 'large and growing cooperation' in space, energy, agriculture and defence. 'We have an opportunity to talk in depth about the whole range of ties,' the Russian president said. Prabowo's visit, coming as he passed up an invitation to attend the Group of Seven summit in Canada, is his first state trip to Russia since taking office last year. He will also speak on Friday at Putin's flagship St Petersburg International Economic Forum, where he's expected to court investment and signal the country's continued engagement with non-Western partners. Prabowo has been seeking to deepen ties with Russia. As defence minister and president-elect last year, he met Putin in Moscow and called for stronger cooperation. Since his presidency began, the two countries held their first joint naval exercises, and the head of Russia's Security Council, Sergei Shoigu, visited Jakarta to discuss military cooperation, marking one of the most senior Russian visits to South-east Asia since Moscow began its war in Ukraine in 2022. Prabowo's visit also follows Indonesia's entry into the Brics group of economies earlier this year, highlighting his push to diversify Indonesia's partnerships. BLOOMBERG
India Today
21 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
Putin and Xi discussed rough edges between G7 leaders at Canada summit: Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed in a telephone call on Thursday what they saw as frictions between G7 leaders at this week's Group of Seven summit, the Kremlin the meeting in Canada, the bloc of wealthy nations struggled to find unity over the war in Ukraine after US President Donald Trump expressed support for Putin and left a day early to tackle the Israel-Iran conflict from departure deprived Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of a chance to meet him and press for more US weapons. Putin and Xi "discussed the results of the recent G7 meeting in Canada. In particular, they noted the well-known rough edges that emerged in the relations between participants", Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters."And, by the way, it was mentioned that for Zelenskyy, this was by no means the most successful trip abroad," Ushakov a call lasting about an hour, the Kremlin said Xi and Putin discussed the Israel-Iran crisis, bilateral ties and cooperation within the Brics group, set to hold a summit in Brazil next month, including an initiative for a new Brics investment platform for the Global InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Russia#Canada
TimesLIVE
a day ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Putin and Xi discussed 'rough edges' between G7 leaders at summit, Kremlin says
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed in a telephone call on Thursday what they saw as frictions between G7 leaders at this week's summit, the Kremlin said. At the meeting in Canada, the bloc of wealthy nations struggled to find unity over the war in Ukraine after US President Donald Trump expressed support for Putin and left a day early to tackle the Israel-Iran conflict from Washington. His departure deprived Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of a chance to meet him and press for more US weapons. Putin and Xi 'discussed the results of the recent G7 meeting. In particular, they noted the rough edges that emerged in the relations between participants', Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters. 'It was mentioned that for Zelensky this was by no means the most successful trip abroad.' In a call lasting about an hour, the Kremlin said Xi and Putin discussed the Israel-Iran crisis, bilateral ties and co-operation in the Brics group, set to hold a summit in Brazil next month, including an initiative for a new Brics investment platform for the Global South.
