President Xi in Central Asia and Trump versus Iran

China's principles-based foreign policy, fits a central Asia that needs what China can offer without the risks associated with other great powers. US and the G7 turning on their ear to support Israel.

Featured contributor Prof. Josef Mahoney joined CGTN Dialogue hosted by Qinduo Xu to discuss President Xi's summit with the Central Asian leaders and the growing possibility the US will join #israel in its aggression against #iran.

Given the recent discoveries of rare-earths in Kazakhstan, once again Central Asia is captivating the strategic interests of major powers. None are positioned as well as China, however, to move forward in constructive and peaceful ways, with a dozen years of high performing #bri projects in Central Asia, which, along with China's principles-based foreign policy, fits perfectly a region that needs what China can offer but without the risks associated with other great powers. Indeed, many in Central Asia remain wary of Russia's conflict in Ukraine and the prospect the US will attack Iran. That's why they've embraced a treaty of permanent good-neighbourliness and friendly cooperation, which aims to serve as a "constitution" guiding win-win relations.

After claiming that he wants a “real end” to the problem, Trump called Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei an “easy target,” adding the US would not kill him “for now” but called for Iran's “unconditional surrender." Is the US ready to go to war? What would an Iranian “surrender” look like?

As a rational, free thinking person, I find it astounding that we see the US and the G7 turning on their ear to support Israeli aggression, completely inverting within a week grow in international calls for an end to genocide in Gaza. That said, Trump's posturing is buying time: the US is moving refueling tankers and carrier groups into position--a sure sign Israel leading the US by the nose, otherwise those assets would already be in place. What a difference a week makes. Last Monday, Trump was negotiating with Iran, telling Israel not to attack. Now, the opposite.

Second, how to parse a word that is virtually meaningless given the real -politik of this moment: What is Iran supposed to surrender? It's right to defend itself against an aggressor? Its right to determine its own political system and leadership?

Perhaps Trump 2.0 means "completely abandoning nuclear aspirations," but let's recall that Trump 1.0 destroyed Obama's JCPOA, and he was celebrated by Israel for doing so. Trump moved the US Embassy to Jerusalem. Trump illegally assassinated Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. Trump gave Israel a freehand to settle the Occupied Territories. Trump set in motion dominoes that led to much that's followed, including the ongoing genocide and apartheid against Palestinians.

Some Israelis today say Trump was wrong to kill JCPOA, but they opposed it then, they opposed Biden restarting it, and they torpedoed Trump's recent efforts at the same. Now Israel claims, contrary to US intelligence, that Iran can make a nuclear bomb in matter of days, and 10 bombs in as many days, to justify the attacks now, and yet, if that was true, and if this is the strategic intent of Iran, as Israel asserts, then why didn't Iran do it already?

https://www.cgtn.com/tv/replay?id=CGGBDcA

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