AMERICA
UNITED STATES/ISRAEL: Benjamin Netanyahu still waiting for a call from Joe Biden
Relations between Israel and the United States have strengthened considerably under the Trump administration. But since his inauguration in January, Joe Biden has still not called the American ally. A situation that is slowly beginning to frustrate the Hebrew state which has manifested its impatience through its representative at the United Nations.
Joe Biden does not seem to be in a hurry to attack the Israel file. Indeed, the American President has still not contacted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Also, Danny Danon, Permanent Representative of the Hebrew State to the United Nations, publicly challenged the new White House tenant on Twitter, asking him to call the Israeli Prime Minister.
Ever since his takeover of power, Biden has already contacted, according to the Israeli ambassador to the UN, the leaders of Canada, Mexico, France, Russia, Japan, etc. “It might be time to call on the closest ally of the United States.”, the Israeli official said, even posting the number of Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu’s office on his Twitter account.
The attitude of Joe Biden is also not the taste of the former American ambassador to the United Nations under Donald Trump, Nikki Haley. She accused the Biden administration of “snobbing” a “friend like Israel” while making “friend-friend” with “an enemy like Iran”.
It should be noted that, for years, the Prime Minister of the Hebrew State has multiplied distrust towards Joe Biden who expressed his disagreement about colonization. However, Benyamin Netanyahu has announced the construction of new housing units in the colonies every time Joe Biden is in the spotlight.
However, the head of the Israeli government said on Monday that the fact that Biden has not yet called him is not “a sign of rupture” of US-Israeli relations. “There is no doubt that our alliance is strong. That doesn’t mean we agree on everything, but our alliance is strong, as is our friendship of nearly 40 years,” he said.
The Biden government has not yet declined its position on the long list of unilateral decisions in favour of Israel made by Donald Trump and his Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The new US administration has confirmed that it will maintain the US embassy in Jerusalem which the US will continue to regard as the capital of the Hebrew state. On the other hand, the Palestinian diplomatic mission will be reopened in Washington. Likewise, aid to the Palestinians cut off in recent years will be restored.
AMERICA
BRAZIL – Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on a state visit to France on June 5 and 6, 2025
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will be on a state visit to France on 5 and 6 June. He will be welcomed in Paris by President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron, accompanied by his wife Rosângela Lula da Silva.
This official trip comes as a follow-up to the renewed action plan between France and Brazil, sealed during Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Brazil in March 2024. Objective: to strengthen bilateral cooperation in strategic areas such as defense, economy, biodiversity, energy transition, culture and the fight against disinformation.
This high-level meeting is also part of a busy international agenda for both countries. It precedes by a few days the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), which will be held in Nice from 9 to 13 June, as well as the COP30 of Belém next November. Two major events where France and Brazil plan to unite their voices to advance global environmental issues.
The visit will also be part of the 2025 Brazil-France Season, an exceptional cultural program that highlights the Brazilian artistic and intellectual scene throughout the country.
Karoline Leavitt, spokesperson for the White House, reaffirmed on Monday, June 2, 2025, the willingness of US President Donald Trump to see Russia and Ukraine begin peace negotiations. During a press conference, she insisted on the importance of direct dialogue between the two parties to end a conflict that has already cost too many human lives.
Speaking to reporters, Leavitt recalled that President Trump strongly supports a return to the negotiating table, drawing in particular on previous talks held in Istanbul. “The president wants the two leaders, along with their delegations, to sit at the negotiating table. Today, we saw that this was possible thanks to his insistence,” she said, while specifying that only Trump will express himself in detail on his position.
Asked about a recent drone attack attributed to Ukraine and targeting Russian territory, Leavitt preferred to insist on the need for a de-escalation. “This war must now end. It has been merciless for both sides, and far too many lives have been lost,” she said.
These remarks, relayed by the Anadolu agency and translated from Turkish by Ayse Betul Akcesme, reflect a new direction in the communication of the White House, emphasizing the role that Washington wishes to play to encourage a diplomatic solution.
Although President Trump has not yet spoken personally about these recent developments, his spokesperson suggests that an initiative in favor of peace could take shape in the coming weeks.
Photo credit: White House
Elon Musk announced the end of his role as a special government employee in President Donald Trump’s administration on Thursday, 29 May 2025, marking the conclusion of his involvement with the Department for Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Musk, who had been appointed to lead efforts to reduce federal bureaucracy and public spending, expressed his gratitude to President Trump for this opportunity to serve.
In a post on his social media platform X, Musk wrote, “Grateful to President Trump for the opportunity to serve. It was a difficult but rewarding experience.”
Shortly after his message, a White House official confirmed his departure and indicated that his resignation process “will begin this evening.”
Musk’s departure comes after his public criticism of President Trump’s “great and beautiful bill”, a legislative package that includes tax cuts and immigration control measures but significantly increases the federal deficit.
Musk described the bill as counterproductive to the DOGE’s mission and expressed disappointment.
During his tenure, Musk has implemented drastic cost-cutting measures through the DOGE, including mass layoffs and termination of federal contracts. These actions have led to strong criticism, protests – including against Tesla – and dozens of lawsuits, as well as concerns about attempts to access private government data.
A federal judge recently allowed a complaint filed by 14 American states against Musk and the DOGE to proceed.
This complaint accuses Musk and the DOGE of unconstitutional actions, including unauthorized access to government data systems, cancellation of federal contracts and dismissal of federal employees.
Musk plans to refocus on his companies, Tesla and SpaceX, and reduce his political contributions. Despite initial optimism, Musk admitted his frustration with bureaucratic resistance in Washington.
The White House plans to implement some of the reductions recommended by the DOGE through budget cancellations. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that this bill will increase deficits by $3.8 trillion over a decade, while regulators remain skeptical of claims that it will be deficit-neutral.
Sources: AP
Photo credit: Elon Musk page
