The President’s Inbox A New U.S. Grand Strategy: The Eurasia Challenge, With Hal Brands
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Jan 21, 2025 Hal Brands, a distinguished professor of Global Affairs at Johns Hopkins and author of The Eurasian Century, joins James M. Lindsay to dissect the critical U.S. interests in Eurasia. They explore the historical struggle for power in the region and the implications for national security. Brands highlights China's ambitions and the risks posed by rising autocracies. The conversation emphasizes the importance of military readiness and allies in maintaining global stability, arguing against neo-isolationism in favor of active U.S. engagement.
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Eurasia's Strategic Importance
- Eurasia has been the strategic center of the world due to its concentration of people, resources, and military potential.
- The 20th century's violence stemmed from technological advancements like railroads and the rise of autocratic regimes.
Geopolitical Thinkers on Eurasia
- Halford Mackinder, Alfred Thayer Mahan, and Nicholas Spykman highlighted Eurasia's geopolitical significance.
- They debated the roles of land and sea power, but agreed on Eurasia's central role in global power struggles.
US Interventionism
- The US played a crucial role in maintaining the global balance of power throughout the 20th century.
- American engagement prevented Eurasian powers from dominating the world, sometimes at a high cost.