The US treasury market is the deepest and most liquid market on the planet. But over the last year, foreign investors have been walking away. Why? Is it simply fear of a bear market from rising inflation and the rising quantum of US debt, or the sheer scale of the refinancing required. Or is it more fundamental in terms of geopolitics, a changing investment market, and better returns elsewhere. If so, it’s a lesson every country should absorb.

AI is changing the world. It’s the greatest new, new thing ever… since the last new, new thing and till the next new, new thing emerges. Given all the risks around business adoption, growth, the bursting bubble in NeoCloud debt, and AI competition, can you really justify a $1.5 trillion valuation for Anthropic, a firm that recorded a $81 bln loss over the first half of this year!

Global conflict risks are rising. The wars in Ukraine and the Gulf are the openers. However, a global conflict for hegemonic power between China and the USA is more likely to take the form of “Grey” conflict than outright “kinetics” between them – triggering further inflation threats, political and economic disruption, and supply chain destabilisation driven by ongoing cyber-attacks, fake news and regional conflict. The resilience of nations will be the critical factor – and that means being prepared to defend themselves.

Elon Musk is the richest man in history. With great wealth comes great power and influence. How wisely is Musk wielding that power? Switching off Starlink in Ukraine, threatening Europe with “devastating consequences” on satellite broadband, and whatever deals he doing on the regulation of his companies all beg closer examination. He raises questions about his accountability, and whose interests he serves.

It really does feel the Atlantic Ocean got much, much wider. As Europe struggles with riots and populism, financiers in the USA dismiss Yoorp as irrelevant, and think their economy is doing just great, fuelled by the AI boom and rising earnings. What they miss is the vulnerability of the economy to a debt shock and rising Treasury refinancing risk.

The Russians are masters of Maskirovka, the art of distraction, disinformation and misdirection. After sabotaging the transatlantic economy, the next stage is to destabilise Europe and break its resilience by fermenting social unrest, political conflict, and riots. The current waves of protest are likely to erupt across Europe with the potential of triggering a bond crisis, are deliberate and part of a hostile plan to remove Europe from the board.