The Globalist US-Iran talks, Japan’s defence on alert and the growing rift between the UAE and Saudi Arabia
Feb 27, 2026
Francis Collins, a Paris-based foreign news correspondent, gives brisk French political and cultural takes. Inzim Amrashid, Monocle’s Gulf correspondent in Dubai, explains the escalating UAE–Saudi rift and its regional fallout. Paul Walde, Europe correspondent, breaks down the US–Iran Geneva talks and wider security risks. They also touch on Japan’s missile deployment near Taiwan and a fast roundup of cultural and travel stories.
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Unclear US Objectives Raise Risk Of Unnecessary Military Action
- Uncertainty about Donald Trump's objectives complicates diplomacy; his public demands (zero enrichment, stockpile removal) may be politically inconsistent or unrealistic.
- Walde noted intelligence and prior strikes make Iran far from an immediate weapons threat, raising questions about the purpose and timing of any US military action.
Strikes Could Draw Wider Regional Actors Into Conflict
- Regional escalation risk is high: strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon and potential responses from Iran, Hamas or proxies could broaden conflict.
- Walde warned that US or Israeli strikes would test limits of allied and congressional support and the ability to contain retaliation.
Japan Reorients Defence Toward Southwest Islands
- Japan is shifting long-term defence focus southwest toward islands near Taiwan, deploying Type 3 surface-to-air missiles to Yonaguni by 2031.
- Yu Hua Chen said deployments reflect decade-long consensus across parties to protect island residents from perceived Chinese threats, not just Tokyo posturing.