Gideon hosts a thought-provoking conversation with Alexander Gabuev, a Russia and China expert, Jeremy Shapiro, a US foreign policy authority, and Karin von Hippel, a specialist in Middle East security. They dive into the potential consequences of Donald Trump's presidency and its impact on global relations. Expect scrutiny of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, China's growing ties with Russia, and the evolving dynamics in the Middle East. Their insights illuminate how 2025 may unfold amidst ongoing geopolitical complexities.

It's been one year now since Vladimir Putin launched his assault on Ukraine, and China has sought to maintain the same difficult, awkward straddle across a difficult year. Did Beijing's efforts to project the impression that it had distanced itself from Russia in the wake of the Party Congress mean anything? And how should the U.S. manage its expectations of what China can or will do? Evan Feigenbaum, vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, joins us again as he did a year ago. We're also joined by his colleague Alexander (Sasha) Gabuev, who is a senior fellow at Carnegie, who headed the Carnegie Moscow Center until recently.4:37 – Are Beijing’s actions surprising?7:34 – The nature of China-Russia relations15:45 – How has Beijing concretely supported Russia?22:07 – Did Beijing know Putin was going to invade?29:48 – European perspectives on the No Limits partnership37:02 – Beijing’s assessment of Russia’s military performance39:07 – What Beijing has learned from Russia’s invasion46:47 – What carrots can the United States offer China?A complete transcript of this podcast is available at TheChinaProject.com.Recommendations:Sasha:  Writing From Ukraine: Fiction, Poetry and Essays since 1965 by Mark AndryczykEvan: The Road Less Traveled: The Secret Battle to End the Great War,1916-1917 by Philip ZelikowKaiser: Jessica Chen Weiss on The Ezra Klein Show and The Problem With Jon Stewart; "Avoiding Catastrophe Will Be the True Test of Fractious U.S.-China Relations," an op-ed in the Financial Times by Jude BlanchetteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Join Alexander Gabuev, a scholar at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, as he discusses the surprising persistence of support for Vladimir Putin among Russians. The conversation reveals how the Ukraine war and military setbacks haven't significantly eroded this backing. Gabuev shares insights into Russia's economic resilience despite sanctions, the complex dynamics of elite rifts, and the country's shifting diplomatic relations. The struggles of Russians in exile and their fight for identity also come to light.