Russia remains a geopolitical adversary and China poses a greater long-term threat.
A united front among democratic nations is crucial to ensure China plays by the rules of commerce.
Increased defense spending and a comprehensive strategy are needed to confront Russia and engage China economically.
Deep dives
Senator Mitt Romney announces decision not to seek reelection
Senator Mitt Romney announced that he will not seek reelection in the future, citing the need for the next generation to step up and make decisions that shape the world. He expressed concern about the populist wing of the Republican Party and emphasized the importance of standing up to Russia and China. Romney believes that Russia remains a geopolitical adversary and that China poses a greater long-term threat. He called for a united front among democratic nations to ensure China plays by the rules of commerce and expressed the need for European countries to increase their defense spending. He emphasized that democracy is the best defense against authoritarianism, but acknowledged the need for a comprehensive strategy to confront China.
Assessing American democracy and the West's strategy towards Russia and China
Romney expressed confidence in the strength of American democracy but stressed the importance of a well-defined strategy towards Russia and China. He believes that the West should engage China economically and demand that they play by the same rules as other nations. He acknowledged the difficulty of aligning democratic nations but pointed to recent events, such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as catalysts for collaboration. He urged democratic nations to focus on economic measures to dissuade China from pursuing a path of conflict and stressed the need for forethought and strategy to shape behavior.
American support for Ukraine and the need for unity among free nations
Romney emphasized the need for continued American support for Ukraine and rejected the notion that supporting Ukraine is too expensive. He called on European countries to carry their own weight in defense spending to ensure ongoing US support for NATO and other alliances. He criticized President Trump's negotiation with the Taliban in Afghanistan and President Biden's handling of the withdrawal. He stressed the importance of unity among free nations and called for a comprehensive strategy to both confront Russia and engage China economically.
Challenges and opportunities in the world order
Romney highlighted the challenges posed by authoritarian regimes but expressed optimism in the power of freedom and democracy. He called for a united front among democratic nations to counterbalance the rising influence of autocracies like Russia and China. He emphasized the need for democratic nations to align their economic policies and trade rules to have a stronger impact on the behavior of authoritarian regimes. Romney acknowledged the difficulty of the task but expressed hope that collective action can preserve world peace and secure a prosperous future.
Upcoming Ukrainian Film Festival and the resilience of Ukrainian filmmakers
Olga Sidorushkin discussed the Ukrainian Film Festival, which showcases films that highlight the resilience and power of Ukrainian people in the face of war. She mentioned the film '20 Days in Maripol' by Slav Chernov, which provides powerful insights into the occupation of Maripol by Russian forces. Sidorushkin also mentioned the contributions of Ukrainian filmmakers and their dedication to sharing stories from the frontline. The festival aims to bring together filmmakers, viewers, and industry professionals to engage in meaningful discussions about the impact of war on Ukraine and the power of film as a medium of expression.
Today, we bring you the latest from the frontlines in Ukraine, analyse political and diplomatic developments from around the world, and Francis Dearnley sits down with Senator Mitt Romney for an exclusive interview - the first since Romney announced he will not seek re-election.
