Can America lead the West? - Chatham House
A discussion at Chatham House, London focused on the U.S., Russia and China situation
Following the end of the Cold War, the US became a unipolar power in global affairs, shaping and leading the liberal rules-based order. US global supremacy, however, is now being called into question as the US, China and Russia battle for military, economic and technological supremacy on the world stage. - Chatham House
Today, I attended a talk at Chatham House featuring Sir David Manning, Fellow of Chatham House, and David E. Sanger, Correspondent for The New York Times. Here are a few key takeaways worth sharing:
We are in a new Cold War involving the USA, China, and Russia.
China is helping Russia rebuild its army.
The unfolding events challenge the work of Henry Kissinger.
U.S. intelligence underestimated China. They missed that Xi Jinping is not a communist aficionado but a nationalist. Additionally, they overlooked Xi Jinping's focus on Taiwan, his military buildup in the South China Sea, and his expansion of China's nuclear arsenal, which is projected to rival the U.S.'s by 2035.
Putin and Jinping have met over 50 times.
Regarding the Ukraine war, there is a possibility the war will end with Ukraine having different borders. This is not necessarily a deterrent to peace, but Ukraine needs to ensure it has: 1) a strong, stable government, 2) access to the sea, and 3) a robust industrial base for reconstruction.
Tomorrow, Putin will visit North Korea.
Brexit should be seen as a symbol that many Western nations are focusing on domestic policy and retreating from the global stage.