The Two Matts The Two Matts Q&A: Was Blair right to join Trump’s Board of Peace… and should Shamima Begum be allowed back to the UK?
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Jan 25, 2026 A lively Q&A tackles Trump’s diplomacy and the strange idea of buying Greenland. A heated debate over Tony Blair’s role on a private “Board of Peace” sparks questions about motive and ethics. Two strong views clash over Shamima Begum’s treatment, age and national security. There’s also a pop-culture split about Brooklyn versus Posh and the costs of celebrity.
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Diplomacy Lets Opponents Save Face
- Leaders who let opponents 'save face' can de-escalate crises and secure practical outcomes.
- Matt d’Ancona argues skilled diplomacy with Trump used off-ramps to defuse threats effectively.
Ownership Is Not The Only Basis For Defence
- Trump's Greenland remarks reveal a pre-World War mindset that ownership equals guaranteed defence.
- Matt d’Ancona warns that privileging sovereignty-over-alliances invites strongmen to reinterpret territorial rules.
Collective Security Undercuts Territorialism
- Collective security underpins modern defence, not territorial title alone.
- Matt d’Ancona stresses that limiting defence to sovereign land would encourage unilateral grabs by powers like Putin or Xi.