A Partnership Approach to America’s International Economic Relations
The National Interest
10.05.22Here is the hardest hard lesson from the Russian invasion of Ukraine: Brutal geopolitics has not gone out of style; revisionist powers still strive to take land with a bloody fist. The United States and the free world must take inventory of all the tools in the arsenal of democracy—hard and soft power, alike—and rethink how to use them for greater effect.
A key element of soft power is economic assistance. America will help itself and the world more if it moves from handing out aid to creating partnerships.
The Strategic Context
Today’s geopolitical challenges are daunting.
China is the most capable adversary the United States has ever faced. It is under the absolute control of the Chinese Communist Party, which is ruthless, unprincipled, and rapacious. Its military and economic capacity, lack of inhibition, and willingness to take risks constitute a threat of unprecedented proportions.
Meeting the dangers posed by Beijing must be the primary focus of U.S. strategy. That said, Russia and Iran, who are aligned with China, also pose grave threats that must not be discounted.
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