Carl Bildt

The United States seems intent on provoking open conflict with Iran.

Russia will likely do its best to interfere.

Europe woke to the new realities of an unbound President Trump in the White House.

Second thoughts could be healthy.

Angela Merkel has been a towering personality in the complicated politics of European integration.

The country remains essentially the same -- even if governance will be more difficult.

Playing with borders and divisions in the Balkans was dangerous in the early 1990s, and remains so now.

Trump did not get a single concession or course correction.

The United Kingdom has to choose between different bad options.

There is genuine concern that a meeting would result in the one leader getting the show, and the other getting the substance.