This was a tough one for me. I’m going with Turkey.*
My rationale? Simple: Erdogan is a crazy-man. Limiting his influence in the region may create a separate buffer zone against an EU incursion, besides Ukraine. Could this mitigate northern aggressors entering from Belarus and effect a modicum of restraint on Putin? Perhaps. Likely not. Also, Khashoggi. Istanbul. Enough said.
Here are the Top Meddling Picks of 2024-25 from some noteworthy public figures.
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Trump has a hodgepodge of choices—Invade Greenland. In turn, Denmark’s PM has set her face like flint with the installation of a few military ships offshore. (Yes, the Danes own Greenland.)
Trump has also singled out the Haitian capital of Columbus, Ohio, “They’re eating the dogs, they’re eating the cats, they’re eating the pets”. Equally charming are the sights he’s set on the Panama Canal to refute a legal battle there. Of course there’s Taiwan, Iran, and regrettably, Ukraine.
And, with a paucity of imagination—he’s included Canada and Mexico.
Musk has a dog’s breakfast of picks—Germany, UK, Italy, India, the US, and, China. You would be forgiven if you missed Musk’s in kind exchange to break ground on new Tesla battery operations in South Africa with the promise to offer more access to STAR LINK technology.
Bannon’s had a history with South America and the Russian-adjacent varietal—By my count, China, the EU through his movement in Brussels, France esp., Venezuela, Brazil, Ukraine + clandestine efforts unknown.
Frm. Rep. Gabbard: Her pick was Assad’s Syria; but who knows now with his exile to Moscow. Oh, let’s include Ukraine. She can’t reasonably list Russia as a pick because Putin’s influence only flows in one direction.
Senator Menendez and his Plus 1—This power couple has Egypt covered.
Netanyahu—Lebanon, Gaza, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the Occupied West Bank and the US.
Putin has spread himself thin given his ambitions on the Border—Ukraine, Turkey, Belarus, Iran, Syria, Poland, and the U.S.
LATE ENTRY—The reprehensible Andrew Tate has founded a so-called BRUV political party in Britain.
Admittedly, there is more research to do. Topping the list is Stephen Miller—I’ll make bank he’s sticking with Venezuela given his unquestionable access to Maduro’s criminal gang crime statistics.
Who’s on your radar?
*We shouldn’t meddle. See The U.S. Constitution. Article 1, Section 10: On the Sovereignty of Foreign Nations. (“Just because we can or we have in the past,” is the wrong answer.)
Reputable Sources are hyperlinked (if that is indeed a verb).
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