Guy Taylor
Articles by Guy Taylor
Trump imposes Iran ‘snapback’ sanctions as Tehran scolds U.S.
The U.S. clash with Iran escalated anew Monday, with the Trump administration vowing to use America's global economic reach to reimpose sweeping U.N. sanctions aimed at blocking Tehran's nuclear programs, while Iran said an isolated and spurned Washington was taking "irresponsible" steps without any backing from the international community. Published September 21, 2020
Iran’s FM Zarif scolds U.S., says Washington to blame for dying nuclear deal
Iran's top diplomat wagged his finger at the screen as he scolded the United States during a webinar hosted by a prominent American think tank Monday, claiming the Trump administration is violating international law by trying to reimpose sweeping U.N. sanctions on Tehran. Published September 21, 2020
Javad Zarif mocks Iran sanction ‘snap back’
The Trump administration has put itself on collision course with the world's major powers, saying it will declare this weekend a reimposition of virtually all international sanctions on Iran that were due to be lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal. Published September 17, 2020
Donald Trump to increase weapons sales to ‘Fortress Taiwan,’ report says
The Trump administration is planning to undergird its mounting pressure campaign against communist China with a dramatic expansion in U.S. weapons sales to the democratic island of Taiwan, whose independence has long been threatened by Beijing. Published September 16, 2020
Nigel Farage, Marine Le Pen counting on Trump win
It's not just Americans who are anxious about the election: The wave of populist conservative parties that surged across Europe after Donald Trump won are watching the U.S. contest with intense interest on the hope that a second Trump term will boost their momentum. Published September 15, 2020
Yoshihide Suga set to become next Japanese prime minister
Beijing and Washington watched closely Monday as Japan's ruling party cleared the way for Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga to take over later this week from his retiring boss, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and take up the task of balancing Tokyo's delicate relations with the U.S. and China. Published September 14, 2020
Pompeo touts ‘great strides to defeat al Qaeda’ on 9/11 anniversary
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo marked the anniversary of 9/11 on Friday by emphasizing America's success in the battle to defeat al Qaeda, and by vowing the nation will never forget the nearly 3,000 people who were killed in the attacks carried out by the terror group 19 years ago. Published September 11, 2020
Trump, Kim Jong-un letters deepen drama over historic North Korea talks
President Trump's COVID-19 comments got the headlines, but Mr. Trump also opened up to Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward about his unique relationship with Kim Jong-un, revealing sensitive correspondence that could be damaging to the pursuit of future talks with the North Korean leader. Published September 10, 2020
Trump administration hopeful as Taliban-Afghan talks slated to begin Saturday
U.S. officials expressed hope for success in long-awaited peace talks between the U.S.-backed Afghan government and Taliban militants Thursday, after it was announced that the talks will begin Saturday in Doha, Qatar, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to observe the opening. Published September 10, 2020
Radio Free Europe returns to counter ‘disinformation’ in Hungary
The American-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty network is reopening broadcasting operations in Hungary for the first time in nearly 30 years -- a move officials say is necessary to counter "disinformation" sullying the Eastern European nation's media landscape. Published September 8, 2020
Trump on offense over Atlantic article claiming he disparages U.S. war dead
The fall presidential campaign accelerated into its traditional Labor Day kickoff with fireworks over the weekend over an anonymously sourced report that President Trump regularly disparages U.S. war dead in private -- a report Democrats quickly rallied around in an attempt to undermine Mr. Trump's recent gains in the polls. Published September 6, 2020
Navalny poisoning sparks Angela Merkel to eye ending Nord Stream 2 deal
The furor sparked by the apparent poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexander Navalny could hand President Trump an unexpected foreign policy win, as Germany weighs whether to pull out of the controversial oil pipeline project with Moscow that Washington has long sought to kill. Published September 3, 2020
Russia, Turkey, Israel vie for Mediterranean resources
Moscow is eyeing a possible military base along the oil-rich shores of Libya. China is seeking investment deals across the region. Turkey is clashing with NATO partner Greece over drilling rights and militarized islands. Newly discovered offshore natural gas deposits have nations scrambling to stake their claims. Published September 2, 2020
Yoshihide Suga, Fumio Kishida, Shigeru Ishiba emerge as potential Shinzo Abe successors
The surprise resignation of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe -- the longest-serving prime minister in modern Japanese history and one of Asia's most influential leaders -- has triggered unease in a region where Tokyo has stood firmly against North Korean provocations and Chinese muscle-flexing designed to intimidate American allies. Published August 31, 2020
Vladimir Putin denies Alexei Navalny poisoning
The Kremlin may be brushing off allegations that it poisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny, but U.S. sources say the case fits a pattern of targeted killings and assassination attempts against figures who challenge Russian President Vladimir Putin's authoritarian rule. Published August 26, 2020
Kim Jong-un coma reports ‘even more tenuous than previous iterations,’ ex-CIA official says
A former high-level CIA official and other North Korea analysts downplayed reports Monday that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is in a coma, asserting the elusive young dictator is likely keeping a low profile amid the COVID-19 pandemic or simply staying mysteriously out of the spotlight at a moment of uncertainty in denuclearization talks. Published August 24, 2020
Latin American policy, immigration loom as Trump-Biden flash point
U.S. policy toward Latin America is having an outsized impact on the election, as Democrat Joseph R. Biden woos Hispanic voters in key swings states by vowing to reverse President Trump's hardline immigration policies and offer refuge for some 200,000 Venezuelans who have fled to the U.S. Published August 20, 2020
Trump pressed on Belarus protests against Lukashenko
Demands for the ouster of longtime Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko grew louder Tuesday as President Trump for the first time questioned whether the man known as "Europe's last dictator" is blocking a key chance for democracy in the former Soviet republic. Published August 18, 2020
Robert O’Brien says Mideast deal due to Trump unorthodox approach
The normalization deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates grew from persistent backroom diplomacy by President Trump, according to National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, who said Sunday that Mr. Trump personally and repeatedly engaged the two sides to clinch the agreement. Published August 16, 2020
North Korea ‘Christmas gift’ may become ‘October surprise,’ experts fear
North Korea last year threatened to shock the world with an unpleasant "Christmas gift" after nuclear talks broke down with the Trump administration over the North's covert nuclear programs. Published July 27, 2020