July 28, 2025

Good morning. President Trump is in Scotland. He agreed to a European trade deal yesterday and he's meeting with Keir Starmer, the British prime minister, today.

Trade deal: The E.U. and the U.S. reached a preliminary agreement that sets a 15 percent tariff on most E.U. goods.
Energy: Trump said Europe had promised to buy $750 billion of American energy. Officials said the spending would be spread over three years.
Starmer: Trump will host the British prime minister at his two Scottish golf courses. They're expected to discuss trade and Gaza. Follow updates here.

More news is below. But first, we explain why leaders are talking about sovereignty.

A man in a suit speaks to a crowd on a stage while holding a microphone.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil. Jean Carniel/Reuters

Hands off

By Jack Nicas

I'm the correspondent in Brazil.

The people who run the largest nations in the Western Hemisphere are insisting on something strangely mundane. They have found it necessary — and popular — to point out that they govern sovereign nations.

That was not previously a detail that required much clarification. Then President Trump arrived. He has made repeated demands of Mexico, Canada, Brazil and other nations, including about whom they can trade with, whom they can investigate and how they secure themselves. He has tried to use tariffs, trade investigations and threats of force to make them obey.

As a result, sovereignty is having a moment.

Pushing back

Trump made his name bossing others around. It was the entire concept of "The Apprentice." His governing style takes the same shape: He expects deference.

In his second term, he has proved even more willing to push America's neighbors — and those nations have not taken it well.

Mexico: Trump has flayed its handling of immigration, drugs and trade. President Claudia Sheinbaum has in turn stressed that Mexico is a sovereign nation at least 30 times during her daily news conferences this year. "Mexico is not subordinate to anyone," she said last month.

Canada: After Trump said his northern neighbor should become the 51st state, Mark Carney won Canada's election for prime minister in a landslide by promising to defend his nation from Trump's "threats to our sovereignty."

Panama: Trump promised to "take back" the Panama Canal. President José Raúl Mulino responded that "the sovereignty and independence of our country are not negotiable."

Colombia: Trump threatened to place 50 percent tariffs on Colombian imports after President Gustavo Petro refused to accept deportation flights. In a rebuke, Petro responded: "I don't shake hands with white enslavers."

Brazil: This month, Trump threatened to impose 50 percent tariffs on Brazilian imports to try to get Brazil to drop the criminal case against its right-wing former president, Jair Bolsonaro, a Trump ally. He is charged with attempting a coup after he lost the 2022 election. Trump calls the case a "witch hunt."

Since the feud began this month, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil has covered his social media accounts in references to sovereignty, given fiery speeches across Brazil promising that his nation won't be pushed around and taken to wearing a hat that says "Brazil belongs to Brazilians."

"He was elected to take care of the American people," Lula said of Trump this month. "The Brazilian people know how to take care of themselves."

The consequences

Yet Trump's demands have yielded some results.

To try to avoid tariffs, Mexico and Canada have promised to crack down on drugs and illegal immigration at their borders. They're trying to import less from China. And Mexico sent 29 cartel leaders wanted by American authorities to the United States.

Colombia quickly capitulated and accepted deportation flights. Panama let the United States expand its military presence at the canal, reduced its business with China and allowed BlackRock, an American investment company, to buy two critical ports near the canal.

Brazil, however, appears less likely to budge. Its government views the criminal case that Trump wants to kill as central to the nation's democracy. Brazil's Supreme Court responded to Trump's threats by putting Bolsonaro in an ankle monitor. And Lula has promised retaliatory tariffs.

That could make Brazil the test case on what happens when Trump meets a sovereign nation that doesn't follow orders.

THE LATEST NEWS

Trade

A large blue ship stacked with colorful container heads out to sea.

The port of Rotterdam, in the Netherlands. Robin Van Lonkhuijsen/ANP, via Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

The U.S. trade deal with the E.U. isn't likely to do much for economic growth on either side. But it avoids other diplomatic disagreements, like on foreign policy, Jim Tankersley writes.
After a lot of big talk on trade, the Trump administration needed a big win. It appears to have gotten one.
Chinese and American officials are meeting to try to reach a trade deal.

Gaza

Boxes hanging from parachutes fall among battered buildings.

Aid over Gaza City. Saher Alghorra for The New York Times

Israel said it had paused some military operations in parts of Gaza to allow more aid in. It was unclear whether that would relieve the hunger crisis: Health officials in the enclave have reported dozens of deaths from starvation this month.
International news organizations, including The New York Times, are urging Israel to allow more aid and journalists into Gaza.
The Israeli navy intercepted a ship carrying activists and aid to Gaza.

Germany

As Germany's far-right party, the AfD, rises in popularity, some lawmakers are pushing to ban it. Other opponents of the party fear that would backfire.
The AfD is trying to soften its image to win power.
A train derailed in southern Germany, killing at least three passengers.

More International News

Firefighters battle a huge fire in grassy scrubland.

A wildfire on Kythera, a popular Greek island. Stamatina Tamvaki/Reuters

Wildfires are blazing across Greece and Turkey during a heat wave.
Thailand and Cambodia agreed to a cease-fire after deadly border clashes. At least 34 people died and tens of thousands fled their homes.

OPINIONS

America needs to take better care of its military members, Dan Caldwell and Darin Selnick write.

TikTok and A.I. are like junk food for our brains. We should limit young people's consumption, Mary Harrington argues.

Here are columns by David French on "The Bear" and Tressie McMillan Cottom on liberal attacks against Zohran Mamdani.

Catch up on the biggest news, and wind down to end your day.

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MORNING READS

An array of breads including croissants and sliced loaves sits on a counter at a bakery in France.

In Paris. Joann Pai for The New York Times

Bakery mystery: Is the bread in Europe better for you?

Relationship help: Eight therapists share the lessons they find themselves repeating.

"Mankeeping": As men's social circles shrink, female partners say they have to meet more social and emotional needs.

Hair loss: Experts say these are the at-home and in-office treatments that actually work.

Work friend: "Can my boss bring his situationship to the office?"

Your pick: The most-clicked story in The Morning yesterday was a calculator that helps you know if you're getting enough protein.

Metropolitan Diary: Crushing on the drummer girl.

Lives Lived: Ziad Rahbani was a composer, playwright and musician whose songs and plays shaped Lebanese culture. He died at 69.

SPORTS

Trending: People were searching online for news about the Baseball Hall of Fame inducting five new players, including Ichiro Suzuki and Billy Wagner.

Women's golf: Lottie Woad, 21, won the Scottish Open by three shots.

NASCAR: Bubba Wallace snapped his 100-race winless streak at the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis.

ARTS AND IDEAS

An object made of ivory and wood carved in the shape of a grasshopper.

The Guennol Grasshopper Apollo Art Auctions

Did this intricately carved grasshopper come from King Tut's tomb?

Experts have long said it's likely that the British archaeologist Howard Carter stole it for himself, along with other items, when he discovered the tomb. A small London auction house put it on sale yesterday, saying there was "no documented evidence" that it came from the pharoah's tomb; it did not appear on official excavation records. The house said it was "confident that the sale complies fully with all applicable laws."

The grasshopper sold for about $450,000. Read more about the controversy here.