Harris and Trump face off for the first time tonight

Rebecca Noble

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In preparation for tonight’s debate, Weekend Edition Saturday Host Scott Simon speaks with three foreign correspondents about some of the global issues they’ll be covering.

They explained which sensitive topics they expect the candidates to address and which topics they think would receive more attention during the debate.

Listen to the full roundtable discussion here and read on for highlights:

Eyder Peralta, Mexico City

In the last debate – between Trump and Biden – Latin America was only discussed in the context of immigration and drug trafficking, and Peralta expects that to be the case this time around.

“We’re going to hear a pretty superficial debate that focuses on immigration enforcement — who’s tough, who’s not tough,” he says. “But I bet we’re not going to hear a discussion about the root causes. And the reason so many people are moving here in this hemisphere is because Latin America is on fire in many ways.”

He points to the total chaos in Haiti, the political crisis in Venezuela, the collapsed economy in Cuba, the fact that Nicaragua has expelled its opponents and the rise of an authoritarian leader in El Salvador.

“As in Europe, the post-Cold War order is shifting, and that creates chaos, and migration is just a symptom,” he adds. “I would like to hear a diagnosis from former President Trump and Vice President Harris.”

Aya Batrawy, The Middle East

The biggest problem in the region is the war between Israel and Hamas that is playing out in Gaza. Batrawy notes that many Israelis see a partner and friend in President Biden, and that Harris has reiterated that support.

But Trump is also seen as a staunch ally of Israel. He has moved the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and recognised the Golan Heights as Israeli territory.

“If you look at what the Arab countries see, what the Middle Eastern countries see, like Egypt or the Gulf States, there are some differences in policy. But generally, especially if you ask the Palestinians, they see more of the same, which is unwavering, unequivocal support for Israel,” she adds.

The nearly year-long conflict has spilled over into the Gulf region, where Batrawy is based, raising concerns about Houthis attacking ships in the Red Sea and possible Iranian retaliation against Israel, for example.

“Nobody has control over the direction this is going, and we still don’t see a ceasefire. So the situation could deteriorate very quickly, whether it’s before or after the elections,” Batrawy said.

John Ruwitch, China

Beijing is viewing the election in the context of the broader US-China relationship, which has become increasingly competitive in recent years.

“When China comes up in the debate, it seems like it will be done in a kind of muscle-flexing, almost chest-beating way,” Ruwitch said.

The candidates appear to differ on China policy. Trump, for example, has talked about imposing sweeping tariffs on Chinese goods, while Harris’s position seems fairly consistent with that of the Biden administration. Trump has questioned why the U.S. would help Taiwan defend itself. Harris’s position is less well-known, though Biden has explicitly said that the U.S. would help defend Taiwan in the event of an attack by China.

“In any case, Beijing is considering all sorts of possible post-election scenarios. The least likely scenario is that relations will miraculously improve under a new president,” Ruwitch said.