Squawk Pod Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent: Putin, Chips, & Global Summits 8/19/25
Aug 19, 2025
Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary, shares insights on the U.S. strategy for peace in Ukraine, suggesting potential terms for negotiation. He highlights the delicate balance between foreign relations and national security, especially concerning the semiconductor industry. Bessent discusses the government’s possible stake in Intel amid its financial struggles and the impacts of SoftBank's recent $2 billion investment. He also touches on Nvidia’s new chip advancements for China, underscoring the complexities of global trade and innovation in critical sectors.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Intel Needs Customers, Not Just Cash
- Intel needs both capital and external customers to make its foundry business viable.
- Private investment like SoftBank's $2B is helpful, but policy can encourage customer demand too.
Taiwan Is A Single-Point Risk For Chips
- The single point of failure for advanced chips is Taiwan, with ~99% of production concentrated there.
- Treasury argues onshoring chip capacity is necessary for national security and supply resilience.
Alaska Summit As Preparation For Bilateral Talks
- The Alaska meeting was described as a show of force to set the stage for talks between Putin and Zelensky.
- Officials expect a bilateral Zelensky–Putin meeting as the key step toward ending the conflict.