The Global Story Live in Washington DC
9 snips
Feb 9, 2026 
Emma Ashford, a Stimson Center senior fellow and author on multipolar U.S. policy, and Tom Bateman, the BBC’s State Department correspondent with Middle East experience, unpack 2026’s seismic foreign-policy shifts. They touch on U.S.-Europe relations, U.S.-China dynamics, China’s moves in Latin America and Iran, Gaza reconstruction politics, and diplomatic maneuvering around Greenland and Canada.
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Reporting On Minneapolis' Changing Mood
- Tom Bateman recounted reporting in Minneapolis shortly after the first killing and then returning after a second death to observe shifts in the mood of protests.
- He described the first visit as angrier and the second as more about mourning and remembrance than pure rage.
Europe's Unease With US Reliability
- Emma Ashford and Tom Bateman argued the US-Europe relationship is being reshaped by Trump's rhetoric and actions, creating European anxiety about dependence and costs.
- They noted European leaders prefer dealing with Marco Rubio over JD Vance because Rubio aligns more with traditional diplomatic positions.
Trump Sees Xi As A Peer
- Emma Ashford highlighted that Trump treats Xi as a peer and has used the term G2, signaling a shift away from previous US consensus on great-power competition.
- She argued Trump accepts spheres of influence to some extent, especially within the Western Hemisphere.