What's next: Trump meets Putin?

The meeting between Trump and Kim has multiple potential meanings. It could be a prelude to increased American detachment from East Asia. Trump may wish to negotiate with Putin and Xi, over the heads of South Korea and Japan, in order to produce a new regional equilibrium of decreased militarization and increased economic integration.

Then there is the new hardline American approach to Iran. For now, Europe, China, and India are keen to preserve the economic ties with Iran that the Obama deal legitimated; but America is likely to sanction entities in those countries, that trade with elements of the Iranian military power structure. Trump's willingness to meet with Kim tells the Iranians that he is willing to make a new deal; but he may also be trying to remove North Korea as a source of military supplies and knowledge.

Finally, this meeting with Kim may be but a prelude to a far more important meeting with Putin, perhaps six or more months from now, in order to de-escalate the new cold war that began under Obama, and which the American deep state - or those elements of it that are "#NeverTrump" - have done everything they can to keep going, despite Trump's obvious desire to make a deal with Putin too.

As a postscript, let me review a few other things that are happening, or that are going to happen:

Spain and Italy got new governments. The Italian government is a left-right, anti-center coalition which has started turning away the boats from Africa.

Turkey has an election this month, Pakistan has an election next month. One expects no change in Turkey. But in Pakistan we shall see if Imran Khan's turn has arrived at last.

Mexico has an election next month, Brazil has an election next year. The cartels have been killing many Mexican politicians. The winner could be "Amlo", a leftist populist. As for Brazil, despite the universality of the corruption revealed by Operation Car Wash, they have tried to pin it mostly on Lula and Dilma, so perhaps they will end up with Bolsonaro, widely regarded as Brazil's Trump.