With the Trump administration lately focused mostly on domestic policy - even as Mueller's ongoing Russian probe continues to hang over Trump's head - US power and influence in the Middle East has found itself in retreat, a continuation of unsuccessful and/or failed policies implemented by the Obama administration, resulting in a power vacuum that has to be filled, and one country has emerged willing to take America's spot.
As reported previously, in a sternly worded address to the nation, Spain's King Felipe VI condemned organizers of Catalonia's independence referendum for having put themselves "outside the law" and said the situation in Spain was "extremely serious", calling for unity. In his address, King Felipe VI said Catalan leaders who organized the referendum showed their "disrespect to the powers of the state" adding that "they have broken the democratic principles of the rule of law.
Just relax...
As Bloomberg noted, stocks and bonds managed gains despite talk that tax reform may face insurmountable hurdles in the U.S. Senate.
Echoing the sentiment from his prime minister Mariano Rajoy, in a nationwide address on Tuesday night, Spain's King Felipe VI said that Spanish democracy is in a serious moment, and accuses Catalan separatist leaders of violating constitution.
"For some time now, certain officials in Catalonia have repeatedly, consciously and purposefully breached the constitution and their statute of autonomy"
Toeing the government line, the King said referendum plans were illegal, and that it is "irresponsible" to conduct risks economy.
Whose Bright Idea Was RussiaGate?
Paul Craig Roberts