Is Biden still seeing China as broadest geopolitical challenge amidst Russia’s bold moves?
President Biden still sees China as the broadest geopolitical challenge for the United States, despite Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine and his threats to use nuclear weapons, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Wednesday. However, the containment of a “very dangerous Russia” remains a key US goal, Sullivan said.
The dual threat from Russia and China is embodied in the Biden administration’s long-awaited national security strategy, a document requested by Congress that was postponed until Wednesday after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February. aligned, but the challenges they pose are different in important ways, ”the document states. “We will prioritize maintaining a lasting competitive advantage over the PRC, while reducing a still very dangerous Russia”
Sullivan said the war in Ukraine did not fundamentally change the way Biden views the world, but the National Security Advisor pointed out that the release of the document was delayed because officials believed it would be “unwise” to publish it while was in progress. it is not clear which direction that war would have taken. ”
Throughout the document, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is reflected in references to issues relating to energy, food security and military preparedness.
Is Biden still seeing China as broadest geopolitical challenge amidst Russia’s bold moves?
Biden says Putin “misjudged” the invasion of Ukraine. The document clarifies that China is the only power capable of changing the world order and states that the conflict in Ukraine has “significantly reduced Russia’s status vis-à-vis China and other Asian powers such as India and Japan”.
“Moscow’s soft power and diplomatic influence have diminished,” he says, “while its efforts to arm energy are counterproductive. The historic global response to Russia’s war against Ukraine sends a resounding message that countries do not they can enjoy the benefits of global integration while violating the core principles of the United Nations Charter ”.
Biden says US troops will defend Taiwan from Chinese attack. Although the Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 required each government to prepare an annual security strategy paper, few governments have done so.
Biden’s strategy echoes much of the worldview he set out during his campaign and early last year in a “Guide to Interim National Security Strategy” document. These efforts, and the new publication, have argued that domestic and foreign policy are closely intertwined that American strength at home is the source of its strength abroad
“Our strategy is based on the premise that the two strategic challenges are linked,” he said, adding that the United States “cannot compete by ignoring the issues that most directly affect people’s lives.”
The three main elements of the strategy, Sullivan said, are “targeted investments” in elements of national power such as technology and energy, military modernization, and diplomatic and other investments to work together and train. coalitions with countries that believe in the rule. of international law. The war in Ukraine, Sullivan said, “played a big part in shaping that strategy. But we don’t think he snuffed out the sun because of all the other strategies that need to be considered.”
