Yesterday was the day of the crucial meeting between Keir Starmer and Donald Trump and is likely to be one of the most critical meetings possibly for decades. Keir Starmer will try to persuade Trump to provide a backdrop security force to help secure a lasting peace in Ukraine. Trump has repeatedly said there will be no American 'boots on the ground' in Ukraine but a more innovative solution is being proposed. This is that the Americans have a designated 'strike force' not actually based in Ukraine but ready to strike (probably with missiles) if Putin were to recommence a hot war either in the Ukraine or any of the other threatened states in the region. This might just do the trick and, in all honesty, Starmer has very few bargaining chips. But one that will be pulled out at the appropriate time is the promise of a full state visit to the UK with a promise to 'hob nob' with the monarchy via a full state banquet and walks in the Buckingham Place gardens. King Charles and the rest of the royal entourage are quite happy to go along with this charade so long as it seems to be in Britain's long-term interest and Trump, via his mother, does have a long connection with the UK. How to deal with Trump is a dilemma. The ex-Australian Prime Minister is of the view that Trump, as an innate bully, only respects force and therefore one has to stand up to him and not be rolled over. On the other hand, it is not difficult to appeal to Trump's vanity so appropriately applied dollops of flattery may well be applied. I think there is a realisation that Trump himself may be mortal and his own health may not survive a four year term. On the other hand, 'Trumpism' may well survive via a successor and if massive tax cuts are delivered to the electorate within the next few years, then it quite on the cards that we may have to endure this period of American isolationism for the best part of eight years and not just four. Michael Clarke, a very respected defence analyst, has asked the question 'Are now living in a world of new imperialism with three great imperialist autocrats who all want to enlarge their countries. Vladimir Putin has been clear in where he wants to enlarge his country, Xi Jinping has made it very clear he wants to enlarge his country into Taiwan and the South China Sea, and Donald Trump is determined to enlarge his country, He is pretty serious about taking Greenland and about Panama and Canada.' So, we may well be living in a new world order where the poorest of the world, and this country, may well have to pay the price for an increased spend on armaments as the great powers face up to each other and a new 'Cold War' era threatens. In the meantime, we are at least pat funding the increased proportion of spending on defence by raiding the overseas aid budget (of which policy, most of the public seems to approve)
Thursday is my shopping day and after Meg had her normal breakfast of some porridge, the sitter who we know well came along so that I can dash off to my local Aldi. Actually, I make a quick tour to my local Morrisons where there is an ATM and I can park just near to it so it gives me the opportunity to get out some daily living cash, pick up a copy of my daily newspaper and collect a TV magazine guide which, since Christmas, I have been in the habit of buying. Shopping was a relatively quick affair and Meg had dozed during the period of time when I was out of the house. There are blue skies and some welcome sunshine this morning which always elevates the spirit. After I return, I have a quick cup of tea and then start to put the shopping away which always takes quite a lot of time. Then I start to prepare the lunch which is a case of dicing some onions, peppers and tomatoes and then adding some cubed meat remnants and onion grave and some petit pois. I traditionally add some diced apple, sultanas and a spoonful of brown sugar. I serve up Meg's portion on a small serving of pasta whilst I try to keep the carbohydrate count down by substituting some cream crackers which I break into small pieces. The whole meal is finished off with a dollop of plain Greek yogurt. I almost invariably prepare a little too much so I have pout some on one side which I might consume for a bit of supper once Meg has been put to bed.
Now that the world is trying to advance to a fossil-fuel free future, much attention is being paid the world's deposits of rare earths and minerals. One of the most important of these is lithium and I idly wondered where most of the world's lithium was to be found. The answer appears to be in South America (Chile) and also in Australia, China, (which, as you might expect, has made itself very active in this area) Chile and Argentina. Donald Trump appears to be eyeing up the Ukraine for some of its mineral deposits and titanium is much valued for its lightness and strength. The major companies here are China (again), Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan before we come to the Ukraine which currently supplies some 5% of total world production. Ukraine has deposits of 22 of the 34 minerals identified by the European Union as critical, according to Economy Ministry data. This includes industrial and construction materials, ferroalloy, precious and non-ferrous metals, and some rare earth elements. Kyiv says these resource represent trillions of dollars of untapped mineral wealth, but industry experts say it could take years for investors to make significant profits from a sector reeling from war and chronic underinvestment.
Finally norovirus is rearing its ugly head again and there are several strains still in circulation. The Department of Health do not know if we have reached a peak this year but it is said to be very infectious and to be quite a severe risk for those with compromised immune systems. We have some hand gel available for the care workers to utilise but I think I probably need to remind the various care workers to use this every time that they visit.
© Mike Hart [2025]