The next era of global superpower competition: a conversation with the New York Times' David Sanger
Apr 27, 2024
auto_awesome
Pulitzer prize-winning national security correspondent for The New York Times, David Sanger, discusses the strategic competition between the US, China, and Russia with Ian Bremmer. They explore US intelligence failures, the growing cooperation between China and Russia, and the significance of semiconductor factories for national security.
China, Russia, and the US are engaged in a new era of global superpower competition for military and economic dominance.
Semiconductor factories are deemed more crucial for national security than aircraft carriers in the current geopolitical landscape.
Deep dives
The New Era of Global Competition
The episode explores the current landscape of global competition between the United States, China, and Russia after the Cold War. With increased interdependence in the world economy, the three-way competition presents unique challenges. The competition extends to military, economic, and political influence, reshaping US strategic interests and global alliances. The podcast delves into the implications of these shifts for America's relationships with China and Russia.
US-Russian Relations Post-Soviet Collapse
The discussion delves into the historical context of US-Russian relations after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Initially, there were optimistic efforts towards democracy and collaboration during Yeltsin's presidency. However, tensions grew as Russia expressed discontent over NATO expansion and perceived loss of empire. The evolving relationship from hope to tension, culminating in Putin's actions like the Crimea annexation, highlights the complexities and missed opportunities in US-Russian interactions.
Challenges in US-China Relations
The podcast addresses the evolving dynamics in US-China relations, emphasizing the failure of the assumption that economic integration would lead to political reform in China. Despite past collaborations on climate agreements and economic matters, misunderstandings about Xi Jinping's autocratic intentions have strained relations. The contrast between past optimism and current realities reflects the intricate challenges in navigating the US-China relationship amidst concerns over technology control, geopolitical ambitions, and Taiwan's strategic significance.
In 2019, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin met at a summit and described their “friendship without limits.” But how close is that friendship, really? Should the US be worried about their growing military and economic cooperation? On the GZERO World Podcast, Ian Bremmer sits down with Pulitzer prize-winning national security correspondent for The New York Times David Sanger to talk about China, Russia, the US, and the 21st century struggle for global dominance. Sanger’s newest book, “New Cold Wars: China’s Rise, Russia’s Invasion, and America’s Struggle to Defend the West,” looks at the new and increasingly unstable era of geopolitics where the US, China and Russia are vying for power and influence like never before. Bremmer and Sanger discuss the US intelligence failures that led to the current geopolitical reality, what the US needs to do to combat the growing cooperation between our two biggest adversaries, and why semiconductor factories are more important to national security than aircraft carriers.