BBCNEWS — The Context USA
20260917 193000 UTC
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[00:00:01] you are. Business on BBC News. Make
[00:00:01] Make the connection. MUSIC
[00:00:09] MUSIC
[00:00:18] These are the latest headlines
[00:00:20] from BBC News. King Charles warns warns of the existential dangers
[00:00:24] dangers of AI systems falling into into the wrong hands as he addresses
[00:00:27] addresses tech leaders at a summit summit in Scotland. The Duke of Sussex
[00:00:31] Sussex has been seen for the first first time in public since returning
[00:00:34] returning to the UK. When he arrived arrived at an awards ceremony for
[00:00:37] for the Invictus Games. More allegations
[00:00:40] allegations from Earl Spencer in in the latest extract from his book
[00:00:43] book on Princess Diana, he claims
[00:00:45] claims the then Prince Charles sounded sounded giddily elated on the night
[00:00:49] night Princess Diana died. South South African police say they have
[00:00:53] have found a ninth woman killed near near Johannesburg in a spate of murders,
[00:00:57] murders, causing fear and outrage outrage in the country. The head
[00:01:00] head of Nato tells the BBC there
[00:01:02] there has to be a credible path towards
[00:01:04] towards the UK meeting targets to
[00:01:07] to increase defence spending. Hope
[00:01:09] Hope for thousands of women with
[00:01:11] with incurable breast cancer as a
[00:01:13] a new life extending drug becomes becomes available on the NHS. Two
[00:01:17] Two years after it was deemed too
[00:01:20] too expensive. Welcome back. You're
[00:01:27] You're watching The Context USA with with Christian and Katrina now Canada.
[00:01:31] Canada. Canada's Prime Minister Mark Mark Carney told the European Parliament Parliament in Strasbourg today that
[00:01:35] that he wants an alliance with the the EU strong enough. He says that
[00:01:39] that no one can dictate Canada's
[00:01:41] Canada's choices. The Prime Minister Minister welcomed formally the statement
[00:01:45] statement that Council President President Ursula von der Leyen had
[00:01:47] had made yesterday when she invited invited Canada to become the EU's
[00:01:51] EU's first associate member. Now Now the details of what that might
[00:01:54] might look like are thin. Associate Associate membership doesn't formally
[00:01:58] formally exist under the EU treaty, treaty, so it would have to be created
[00:02:02] created and then ratified by member member states. And when you look look at European bureaucracy, well,
[00:02:06] well, maybe don't hold your breath breath for that to happen too quickly.
[00:02:09] quickly. You old cynic. Nonetheless, Nonetheless, it has sufficiently sufficiently irritated President
[00:02:12] President Trump. He spent months months pushing Canada away. Now he's
[00:02:15] he's warning Europe not to get too too close, threatening very serious
[00:02:19] serious tariffs if they do. And so so Carney today made no mention of
[00:02:22] of the US president by name. Perhaps
[00:02:24] Perhaps he didn't have to. You. At
[00:02:31] At all. I'm not proposing a third
[00:02:34] third bloc in order to become a great
[00:02:37] great power rival, only with better
[00:02:40] better manners. We. We do not seek
[00:02:50] seek power to dominate others. On
[00:02:53] On the contrary, we are pursuing
[00:02:55] pursuing resilience. So no one. No
[00:02:58] No one can control our open markets,
[00:03:01] markets, impair our sovereignty, sovereignty, threaten our territorial territorial integrity or undermine
[00:03:05] undermine our freedoms, our democracies,
[00:03:07] democracies, our rule of law. Well,
[00:03:10] Well, back home, Canadians want to to know this will deliver what Carney
[00:03:14] Carney promised on the campaign trail. trail. Economic resilience. That
[00:03:17] That promise has certainly been tested tested by Trump's second term and
[00:03:21] and the threats the President has has made to turn Canada into the
[00:03:24] the 51st state. Canada is going to
[00:03:26] to be a very serious contender to
[00:03:29] to be our 51st state. Canada should
[00:03:31] should honestly become our 51st state. state. We wouldn't have a northern
[00:03:35] northern border problem. We wouldn't
[00:03:37] wouldn't have a tariff problem. President
[00:03:40] President Trump there. Well let's let's speak live now to the former
[00:03:43] former Prime Minister of Ireland, Ireland, Leo Varadkar. Taoiseach,
[00:03:46] Taoiseach, thank you very much for for joining us here on BBC News.
[00:03:50] News. We've gone from President Trump Trump referring to Canada as the
[00:03:53] the 51st state to now perhaps a suggestion suggestion that it will be the 28th
[00:03:56] 28th member state of the European European Union. This offer from Ursula
[00:03:59] Ursula von der Leyen of associate associate membership, is that a realistic
[00:04:03] realistic thing for her to offer?
[00:04:05] offer? Well, look, it's very interesting interesting and it's gone down very
[00:04:09] very well in Europe, certainly with with most people I've been speaking speaking to. It's interesting that
[00:04:12] that it comes at a time when Russia
[00:04:14] Russia is trying to expand through
[00:04:17] through territorial conquest and and war, and the US is threatening
[00:04:20] threatening to expand through conquest
[00:04:23] conquest of Greenland, for example. example. The EU is the only bloc,
[00:04:26] bloc, the only entity that people people are actually queuing up to to join, whether it's people who
[00:04:30] who want to become full members in in the Balkans or perhaps Canada
[00:04:33] Canada becoming now an associate associate member. And I think that
[00:04:35] that says a lot about the European European Union, notwithstanding its
[00:04:39] its weaknesses the EU and Canada Canada already have a very strong strong relationship. We tend to work
[00:04:43] work together and vote together in in international forums. We have
[00:04:47] have a comprehensive trade agreement agreement with CETA not fully ratified
[00:04:50] ratified but almost fully in place. place. And then also there's co-operation
[00:04:53] co-operation on security through through Nato. So there already is
[00:04:56] is a close relationship. The question question is what? How can we make
[00:04:59] make closer how can it be deepened deepened in terms of economic partnership
[00:05:03] partnership security, perhaps even even a degree of freedom of movement?
[00:05:05] movement? And that's really now what what has to be discussed because
[00:05:08] because as you said earlier, Europe
[00:05:10] Europe is built on treaties and built built on laws, and there's no provision
[00:05:14] provision for associate membership membership in the treaties. So that
[00:05:17] that would have to be written up
[00:05:20] up and decided on. But there are
[00:05:23] are bespoke relationships. It's not
[00:05:25] not a joke to say that that would would take some time. I mean, given
[00:05:28] given the institutions of the European European Union, it may in fact be
[00:05:32] be that that associate membership membership would only come into force
[00:05:35] force after President Trump had left left the White House, in which case
[00:05:38] case perhaps Canada would be less
[00:05:39] less interested. Yeah, look, it depends depends on what it is. So if you
[00:05:43] you take the Efta countries, they're they're part of the single market
[00:05:46] market Iceland, Norway there's full full freedom of movement. For example,
[00:05:49] example, they accept all European
[00:05:52] European standards. We've a bespoke bespoke relationship with Switzerland,
[00:05:55] Switzerland, having with the UK that that we're trying to strengthen and
[00:05:58] and deepen now. So the question is
[00:06:00] is would this fall into that category? category? Would it be something that's
[00:06:03] that's just about the EU and Canada, Canada, or could it potentially be
[00:06:07] be a model for other countries? For
[00:06:09] For example, could it be a model model for the UK coming closer to
[00:06:12] to the European Union again, could could it be a model for Ukraine on
[00:06:15] on the road to full membership? And
[00:06:18] And I don't know to what extent. extent. President von der Leyen discussed
[00:06:21] discussed this with the 27 member member states and the Prime Ministers.
[00:06:25] Ministers. But I think what's clear clear is that there is a really strong
[00:06:28] strong willingness on both sides sides to realise this, to make this
[00:06:31] this happen. And for the European
[00:06:34] European Union really to strengthen strengthen its relationship with with the other democracies in the
[00:06:38] the world, whether it's Canada or or Australia, New Zealand countries
[00:06:41] countries in Latin America too, all all of which have a connection to
[00:06:45] to Europe and speak the same language
[00:06:46] language and share the same values.
[00:06:50] values. It has, though, drawn the the wrath of President Trump. He's
[00:06:53] He's described it as a hostile act act and threatened to levy tariffs
[00:06:57] tariffs on the European Union. Should Should this kind of side relationship,
[00:07:00] relationship, if you like, go ahead. ahead. Is that too big a price to
[00:07:04] to pay for the European Union? Whatever Whatever gains they may get from
[00:07:07] from closer ties with Canada might
[00:07:09] might be undercut by more tariffs tariffs on that key trade relationship
[00:07:12] relationship between the EU and the the US. Yeah, I think the difficulty
[00:07:16] difficulty with tariffs when it comes comes to tariffs is the President
[00:07:19] President seems to be willing to
[00:07:21] to apply them for any reason on any
[00:07:24] any given week. So it's one of those those things that you almost can't
[00:07:27] can't plan for any more. The only only thing you can be certain about
[00:07:30] about is the uncertainty of it all.
[00:07:34] all. And I think while European leaders leaders were very keen to appease appease President Trump, particularly
[00:07:38] particularly because of fears that that he might withdraw support for for Ukraine, and that led to the
[00:07:42] the unbalanced ternary agreement agreement where the EU accepted US US tariffs on our products while
[00:07:46] while having none on theirs. Greenland
[00:07:48] Greenland really changed that. And And I think most European leaders
[00:07:52] leaders have now come to the view
[00:07:54] view that there's no reward really really for appeasing President Trump.
[00:07:57] Trump. You may wish to keep out of of his crosshairs, but appeasement
[00:08:01] appeasement hasn't particularly worked. worked. And we need to go on and
[00:08:03] and build and deepen our relationships. relationships. And then, of course,
[00:08:08] course, with the utterance of a few few words, he can lift those tariffs,
[00:08:10] tariffs, as he did on Irish whiskey whiskey when he was in Ireland. On
[00:08:13] On Sunday. Yeah. And then the courts courts may decide they have to be
[00:08:16] be refunded. So you know, that's that's that that's where we stand. stand. The main problem for people
[00:08:20] people who want to trade and do business business with the US now is you just
[00:08:23] just don't know what the tariffs tariffs are going to be in a few
[00:08:26] few weeks' time. They can be changed
[00:08:28] changed almost on a whim. And then then sometimes the courts overturn
[00:08:32] overturn that. And that's not the the way Europe does business. We We do free trade agreements with
[00:08:35] with other parts of the world. There There are clear rules. There are
[00:08:38] are clear standards. There are clear clear tariffs. If you're going to
[00:08:42] to make a one year investment, a a two year investment, a 20 year
[00:08:45] year investment, you know what the the rules are. And you know, since
[00:08:48] since President Trump has come to to office, we've agreed the Mercosur
[00:08:52] Mercosur trade agreement with for for 4 or 5 Latin American countries.
[00:08:55] countries. We've agreed a free trade trade agreement with India as well.
[00:08:58] well. So while the US is no longer
[00:09:00] longer committed to free trade and and certainly not barrier free and
[00:09:04] and tariff free trade, the European European Union is doubling down on
[00:09:07] on that and seeing it as an opportunity opportunity to improve our competitiveness,
[00:09:10] competitiveness, our trading relationships relationships and then also our political
[00:09:14] political our political balance on
[00:09:15] on foot of that. OK. All right. Leo
[00:09:18] Leo Varadkar, former Taoiseach of of Ireland, thank you very much for
[00:09:21] for joining us here on BBC News.
[00:09:23] News. Our panel listening to that, that, if you are just joining us us tonight, Abel Maldonado former
[00:09:27] former Republican lieutenant governor governor of California and Janet Janet Napolitano, the former secretary
[00:09:31] secretary of Homeland Security, former
[00:09:33] former governor of Arizona, to Janet,
[00:09:35] Janet, is this a lasting shift in
[00:09:37] in North America or does it fade,
[00:09:39] fade, as Katrina suggests once Trump
[00:09:41] Trump has left office? Well, American
[00:09:46] American politics like politics everywhere, everywhere, are always difficult
[00:09:49] difficult to predict. But I think think the better argument is that
[00:09:53] that this is temporary. This whole
[00:09:57] whole tariff, you know, fixation fixation is a very Donald Trump fixation.
[00:10:01] fixation. It's not popular with the
[00:10:02] the American people and it's not not popular with both Republican
[00:10:06] Republican and Democratic members members of Congress as various industries
[00:10:10] industries in their states have been been affected by the tariffs. You
[00:10:14] You know, this summer we're supposed supposed to have the renegotiation
[00:10:17] renegotiation of the US, Mexico, Mexico, Canadian Free Trade Agreement.
[00:10:20] Agreement. That was renegotiated renegotiated in Trump's first term.
[00:10:23] term. And when that was renegotiated renegotiated in the first term, he
[00:10:26] he called it the best trade agreement agreement I think ever in the history
[00:10:29] history of the world. You know how
[00:10:30] how he talks and yet now we find
[00:10:34] find ourselves at odds with what what has been one of our closest
[00:10:38] closest partners and allies over over the decades, and that is Canada.
[00:10:41] Canada. To what end? And I think
[00:10:44] think a lot of Americans, American American voters, American politicians,
[00:10:48] politicians, American elected officials officials are saying, where does
[00:10:51] does this end? And I think the conclusion
[00:10:53] conclusion by many is that it must must end and will end by the end
[00:10:57] end of the Trump administration. administration. Just in terms of
[00:10:59] of the time span for this. And I I think we're right to say bureaucracy bureaucracy might get in the way
[00:11:03] way of it, but it's also true when when you look at the problems in in the Middle East and particularly
[00:11:07] particularly the problems in the the Red Sea right now that Europe Europe this winter might be starved
[00:11:10] starved of gas and oil able. They They might want to fast track a deal
[00:11:14] deal with an energy rich Canada. Well, you know what, as Janet
[00:11:18] Janet was stating, you know, is it it going to be temporary or not?
[00:11:21] not? I mean, look, I have a different
[00:11:24] different take on this. Canada is is our neighbour. They are our next
[00:11:28] next door neighbour. I actually where where I live, I have a next door
[00:11:31] door neighbour. I have a great relationship relationship with my neighbour. I'm
[00:11:33] I'm a farmer, I have a farm, I have have a great relationship with my
[00:11:37] my farmers next door. So I just hope
[00:11:40] hope this is just temporary and we we can move on. Canada is our next
[00:11:43] next door neighbour. There are huge huge trading partner. We've been
[00:11:47] been allies forever. Speech you know.
[00:11:49] know. What does it mean to be an an associate member of the European
[00:11:53] European Union? What does that mean? mean? Well, I mean, I don't know.
[00:11:56] know. It's I get why he's saying saying it. I get why he went over
[00:11:58] over there to do that. A little slap slap at President Trump and get back
[00:12:02] back and forth. At the end of the the day, we're next door neighbours. neighbours. Let's get our act together.
[00:12:06] together. Let's be let's be who we we are. As Janet stated, we're going
[00:12:10] going to negotiate a trade agreement agreement with Mexico soon. All three
[00:12:12] three of us. I mean, and he did say
[00:12:14] say this it was the best agreement
[00:12:17] agreement ever on the planet. I get get that we got to do it again. So
[00:12:21] So you know what? Let's let today today go by and tomorrow's going
[00:12:23] going to be a different day. But
[00:12:26] But Janet, isn't it the case for for Prime Minister Carney that he
[00:12:30] he has to look after Canadians, just just as President Trump has to look
[00:12:33] look after Americans? And if he's he's seeing these tariffs kind of of looming into the distance that
[00:12:37] that he has to look elsewhere for
[00:12:39] for trade arrangements for visa arrangements,
[00:12:42] arrangements, potentially. Well, Well, I think Carney is doing what
[00:12:46] what he feels he needs to do to protect
[00:12:48] protect the country that he leads.
[00:12:51] leads. The tragedy is that he feels feels like he must do this because
[00:12:55] because of the actions of the United
[00:12:59] United States and again, you know, know, I have to agree with Abel.
[00:13:03] Abel. I think, you know, we are neighbours. neighbours. We share a long border.
[00:13:06] border. We share we've shared military
[00:13:09] military assets, we share intelligence
[00:13:12] intelligence assets, we share commercial commercial assets. And we're both
[00:13:15] both countries are stronger and better
[00:13:16] better off when we do so without
[00:13:19] without this trade friction interfering. interfering. And now what I think
[00:13:22] think has evolved into a almost a
[00:13:25] a personality based conflict between
[00:13:28] between the leadership of the United United States and the leadership leadership of Canada. We need to
[00:13:32] to back up the bus a little bit here
[00:13:34] here and say, what who is benefiting
[00:13:36] benefiting from this? No one is benefiting
[00:13:38] benefiting from this. What would would America lose, Abel, if Canada
[00:13:42] Canada was to go off and sign new
[00:13:45] new supply chains, defence industry industry contracts, payment systems
[00:13:48] systems with Europe instead of the the United States? Presumably that
[00:13:52] that would cost the. The US
[00:13:56] economy. I mean, I don't know what what we would lose. I think what what we would do, our economy would
[00:14:00] would get hurt. Our relationship relationship would be damaged. So
[00:14:03] So I just hope this is just a temporary.
[00:14:06] temporary. And as you stated, I think think he's doing what he needs to
[00:14:09] to do not only for his country but but for himself. I mean, he needs
[00:14:13] needs I mean, what does President President Trump say America first,
[00:14:17] first, Canada first. So we know that
[00:14:20] that the question is, is let's bring bring it. Let's back up the bus a
[00:14:23] a little bit. You're right, Secretary Secretary Napolitano. Let's back
[00:14:26] back up the bus. Let's be the neighbours neighbours that we are and let's
[00:14:29] let's be the strong neighbours that
[00:14:32] that we have been. We love this jolly jolly bipartisan spirit. On The Context
[00:14:36] Context USA. It's why we're here here bringing people together across
[00:14:39] across the Atlantic and across America.
[00:14:42] America. We'll have lots more agreement, agreement, maybe some disagreements
[00:14:45] disagreements in just a moment. So So stay with us
[00:15:46] expeditions in the Yorkshire Dales Dales to the Scottish Highlands meeting meeting people proving adventure
[00:15:49] adventure is far from offline. The
[00:15:50] The Travel Show on BBC iPlayer. Let's
[00:15:59] Let's stay with matters involving involving the US and the European European Union, because the US is
[00:16:03] is currently carrying out a review review of its military footprint footprint in Europe following the
[00:16:07] the decision at the beginning of of the year to withdraw 5000 troops
[00:16:10] troops from Germany. Now, in the the last hour or so, there has been
[00:16:13] been a development because President President Trump has announced that
[00:16:16] that the US., he says, is nearing nearing an agreement to build a new
[00:16:20] new US Army base in Poland. Yeah. Yeah. In a post on Truth Social,
[00:16:24] Social, he credited the bold leadership leadership of the Polish president president in getting them to this
[00:16:28] this position a location he said said would be announced very soon.
[00:16:30] soon. And it comes at a tense moment moment on Nato's eastern flank in
[00:16:34] in fact, Poland temporarily closed closed two of its airports today
[00:16:37] today after a Russian drone attack
[00:16:40] attack in nearby western Ukraine.
[00:16:42] Ukraine. The Nato Secretary General, General, Mark Rutte, has been speaking
[00:16:45] speaking to the BBC today, and he
[00:16:47] he said that the recent Russian activity activity shows that President Vladimir
[00:16:51] Vladimir Putin is becoming what he
[00:16:53] he called increasingly desperate desperate because, he says for Poland,
[00:16:57] Poland, a permanent American base base will be some reassurance. It's
[00:17:00] It's been the goal for several years.
[00:17:02] years. Warsaw spends more on defence defence than any other Nato member
[00:17:06] member and buys heavily American. American. In fact, the Polish have
[00:17:09] have just offered to pay for this this new base themselves, it seems.
[00:17:13] seems. Well, let's bring in our panellists panellists again. Abel Maldonado
[00:17:16] Maldonado and Janet Napolitano and and Janet. As I said earlier, you
[00:17:19] you were part of President Biden's Biden's Intelligence advisory Council.
[00:17:23] Council. When you look at what's what's been happening, the military
[00:17:26] military posturing in Europe over over the last few months, drawing
[00:17:29] drawing down those troops from Germany. Germany. Secretary Hague said the
[00:17:32] the ordering a major review and now
[00:17:34] now it seems building a huge base
[00:17:36] base in Poland. We know where Poland Poland is located. Is that again
[00:17:39] again linked back to what we were
[00:17:41] were talking earlier about Russia?
[00:17:45] Russia? Well it seems like it's related.
[00:17:48] related. And, you know, building building a permanent army base US
[00:17:51] US army base in Poland to me is a
[00:17:54] a good move. Poland, of course, is
[00:17:58] is right there on Russia's flank.
[00:18:00] flank. And having a permanent US US military army presence there will
[00:18:04] will be a deterrent to Russian expansion
[00:18:06] expansion both there and in the Baltics.
[00:18:09] Baltics. And so that seems to me me it's a very expensive thing to
[00:18:13] to do to support a permanent US military military installation as compared
[00:18:16] compared to a temporary deployment. deployment. But that seems to me
[00:18:19] me to be a good move in terms of
[00:18:22] of the overall force review in Europe.
[00:18:25] Europe. You know, every administration administration ought to do force
[00:18:28] force reviews from time to time just just because you have forces in a
[00:18:32] a country for, you know, 20 years years doesn't mean they should be
[00:18:35] be there in perpetuity. You ought ought to always be analysing are
[00:18:39] are they mission driven? Are they they doing what they need to do?
[00:18:42] do? Is it the best way to accomplish
[00:18:44] accomplish your end, your end goals?
[00:18:46] goals? Those kinds of reviews? If
[00:18:49] If honestly thoroughly done, can
[00:18:51] can be very useful. Is it unusual, unusual, though, to announce the
[00:18:55] the building of this large base which which will house a lot of troops troops while you are still in the
[00:18:59] the middle of that review? Well,
[00:19:03] Well, you know, I think they've been
[00:19:05] been on separate time tracks. I think
[00:19:07] think that the negotiation or the the discussion of having a US permanent
[00:19:11] permanent US presence at a base in in Poland has been under way for
[00:19:15] for several years. And the review
[00:19:17] review has not been under way for
[00:19:19] for that period of time. But you
[00:19:23] you know, you can't perfectly co-ordinate co-ordinate every single time track
[00:19:27] track that you're on. So if you're you're going to build an Army base
[00:19:30] base that takes time to act, you you can announce it. But to actually
[00:19:33] actually do it also takes time. And
[00:19:36] And during that time period, the the overall force review will be
[00:19:39] be being accomplished. I mean, there there is a unique relationship that that the President has forged with
[00:19:43] with Poland able, but it is somewhat
[00:19:46] somewhat surprising given that Pete Pete Hegseth and the Pentagon have
[00:19:48] have made it clear Europe is going going to have to defend itself. If
[00:19:51] If that is the case, why is Poland Poland getting a new base and more
[00:19:54] more troops? Well, this is not a
[00:19:58] a gift. It's not a gift to Poland. Poland. I think this is a tripwire
[00:20:02] tripwire for the Russians. I mean, mean, I think you watch him all of
[00:20:05] of a sudden the Lindsey Graham bills bills going through Congress, it's
[00:20:08] it's going to be passed. It's going going to be signed. And then he comes
[00:20:11] comes out and he tweets today of
[00:20:12] of a base in Poland. If this is not
[00:20:16] not a message to Putin and to the
[00:20:18] the Russians, then I don't know what
[00:20:21] what it is, but I can tell you, I
[00:20:23] I think President Trump has had his
[00:20:25] his he's up to his ends with President
[00:20:28] President Putin. And at this point
[00:20:30] point in time, he's moving forward.
[00:20:33] forward. And yeah, it's going to. to. Be able to. To be more expensive
[00:20:37] expensive to go defend Poland. Do Do you tie it to the visit of the
[00:20:40] the CIA director to Moscow? And the the concerns there have been more
[00:20:44] more generally that Russia is going
[00:20:45] going to test Nato. I don't know know if it's a direct correlation.
[00:20:49] correlation. Oh I'm sorry. Go ahead ahead Janet. Go ahead. I'll follow
[00:20:52] follow you up. I don't see it as as a direct correlation. I just see
[00:20:56] see it as President Trump. Trump Trump coming to an end to saying
[00:20:59] saying enough is enough. I mean remember remember what he said. He can end
[00:21:03] end the Ukraine war in a week or
[00:21:05] or two. How long has it been? So
[00:21:08] So I think it's finally saying, OK, OK, enough is enough. So that's kind
[00:21:12] kind of how I feel it. My take on on it. You were going to come in
[00:21:15] in on that. I was just going to add
[00:21:18] add that Russia has been testing testing the waters against Nato for
[00:21:21] for quite a period of time now with
[00:21:25] with drones, with cyber warfare.
[00:21:27] warfare. Etc, etc. Seeing what will
[00:21:30] will actually provoke a reaction. reaction. And so far there hasn't
[00:21:33] hasn't been a kinetic reaction. But
[00:21:36] But they're clearly testing to see see how far they can go and how far
[00:21:39] far and how much the United States
[00:21:41] States is willing to absorb. And
[00:21:43] And I agree with Abel. I think the the combination of the sanctions
[00:21:47] sanctions bill with the announcement announcement of the base in Poland
[00:21:49] Poland is sending a pretty clear
[00:21:52] clear message to Putin. Interesting. Interesting. That's co-ordinated
[00:21:54] co-ordinated indeed. Now we're going going to talk about battles of a
[00:21:58] a different kind, not military ones, ones, but sporting ones. And because
[00:22:02] because we have a panel with us who who are joining us from California, California, we're going to have a
[00:22:05] a little talk about the Olympic Games,
[00:22:07] Games, which of course will be in
[00:22:11] in LA in 2028, just over 600 days days to go. For those who are counting.
[00:22:15] counting. And we will be watching watching a triathlon on Venice Beach.
[00:22:19] Beach. That will be spectacular. spectacular. There will be some road
[00:22:21] road cycling past the Griffith Observatory
[00:22:23] Observatory and there will be squash squash at Universal Studios. I wonder,
[00:22:27] wonder, will anyone photobomb the
[00:22:29] the back of that? But today the Olympic Olympic headlines are coming not
[00:22:32] not from the United States but from
[00:22:35] from Australia and Brisbane. Brisbane Brisbane 2032. Because a technical
[00:22:38] technical committee has just given given the go ahead for the rowing
[00:22:41] rowing and canoeing to be staged
[00:22:43] staged on a Queensland river which
[00:22:45] which is home to around 500 saltwater
[00:22:48] saltwater crocodiles. If there was was ever an incentive to stay in
[00:22:51] in the boat house, this is it. Apparently
[00:22:54] Apparently when the assessors went went to see the Fitzroy River in
[00:22:58] in Rockhampton, crocodiles weren't weren't even on the checklist. What?
[00:23:00] What? What? Instead, the committee committee said it was looking at
[00:23:03] at a range of conditions, including
[00:23:05] including weather patterns and water water levels. ISS crocodiles will
[00:23:08] will make you go a bit faster, would would they? The three time Olympic
[00:23:12] Olympic gold medallist rower Drew Drew Ginn has been commenting on
[00:23:15] on this today. He was on BBC Radio
[00:23:18] Radio and he said I am sure all the the athletes will row faster. There
[00:23:22] There you go. Of course they will. will. You don't want to be hanging
[00:23:24] hanging around for that Snap Snap Snap Snap. I don't think it's the
[00:23:28] the highest priority, he said. But But it was certainly cited very early
[00:23:31] early on. Yeah, I've just been looking
[00:23:36] looking at how fast crocodiles swim. swim. Saltwater crocodiles 20 mile
[00:23:39] mile an hour in short bursts. So So you're going to be pretty quick
[00:23:43] quick in that canoe. What are we we going to see? Lane number one,
[00:23:47] one, Great Britain. Lane number two.
[00:23:48] two. Australia. Where is number three?
[00:23:51] three? Eye contact. I thought, well,
[00:23:55] well, there must be. Are there any any risks? Janet. I thought in Venice
[00:23:58] Venice Beach and I asked I asked asked Claude about this since I is is the theme of the night. And he
[00:24:02] he said the shallow coastal waters waters around Los Angeles, including
[00:24:05] including Venice Beach, are recognised recognised by marine researchers
[00:24:09] researchers as a nursery area for
[00:24:10] for great white sharks. You know,
[00:24:14] know, there are risks everywhere. everywhere. I think we're going to to see some rowing world records
[00:24:18] records set, quite frankly. Suddenly
[00:24:23] Suddenly the field for squash at at Universal Studios has gone through
[00:24:27] through the roof. Nobody wants to
[00:24:29] to be in the water. It will be, though,
[00:24:33] though, quite the spectacle, Janet, Janet, won't it? The Olympic Games
[00:24:36] Games at Los Angeles. What are the the highlights we should be looking
[00:24:39] looking out for there? Well, I'm I'm looking. I'm excited. We saw
[00:24:42] saw what happened to Fifa. People People were coming to the US and
[00:24:46] and they were talking about all the the things that we do here, like
[00:24:49] like Popeyes and Costco and Walmart.
[00:24:52] Walmart. And I'm hopeful that the the US Olympics in Los Angeles does
[00:24:56] does the exact same thing and brings brings and welcomes people with open
[00:24:59] open arms here in LA. Shark free
[00:25:03] free shark free. Absolutely. Yeah.
[00:25:08] Yeah. Don't forget ranch dressing.
[00:25:10] dressing. Comes with ranch dressing. dressing. Ranch dressing? That is
[00:25:14] is a controversial one. We might might have to have a full hour long
[00:25:17] long debate on ranch. Dressing. It's
[00:25:20] It's so good. Just does it feel. feel. I mean, was I was intrigued,
[00:25:23] intrigued, actually, I must admit admit in my ignorance, I sort of
[00:25:26] of lost sight of the fact that it it was in LA. Does it feel. I mean,
[00:25:29] mean, when you go to LA, does it it feel that it's coming? It's still
[00:25:32] still what, about 600 days away? If you're asking
[00:25:35] away? If you're asking me if you're
[00:25:38] you're asking me. Yeah, it's still still quite a ways, Christian, but
[00:25:42] but we're getting ready. The 405 405 is already been fixed, so we're
[00:25:46] we're getting ready. The rings are are already out. The flags are already
[00:25:49] already out. Yeah, yeah. That traffic,
[00:25:51] traffic, that's a big deal. Well,
[00:25:54] Well, we'll talk about Olympics at at length. I'm sure for many of those
[00:25:58] those years to come, but we'll have have to leave it there for the moment.
[00:26:01] moment. Janet Napolitano and Abel Abel Maldonado, thank you for the
[00:26:05] the pleasure of your company. That That is it from Christine and myself. myself. Do stay
[00:29:43] MUSIC
[00:30:16] Hello, I'm Christian Fraser.
[00:30:17] This is The Context on BBC News.
[00:30:20] News. The headlines King Charles Charles warns of the existential
[00:30:24] existential dangers of AI systems systems falling into the wrong hands
[00:30:27] hands as he gathers the giants of of artificial intelligence at a summit
[00:30:31] summit in Scotland. Those in our
[00:30:34] our world who value deeply our humanity
[00:30:37] humanity and its vital moral component
[00:30:39] component are anxiously seeking your
[00:30:42] your reassurance that we will not
[00:30:43] not lose control of our destiny or
[00:30:47] or our souls. The head of Nato tells
[00:30:49] tells the BBC. There has to be a
[00:30:51] a credible path towards the UK meeting
[00:30:54] meeting targets to increase defence defence spending and the United Nations
[00:30:58] Nations warns of a serious decline decline in the amount of