New Delhi: In today’s tumultuous geopolitical climate, people often turn to historical figures like Thucydides, Lenin, and Kautilya for insights into current events. Thucydides, the ancient Greek historian, famously said, “The strong do what they have to do, and the weak accept what they have to accept,” a sentiment reflected in Donald Trump’s approach to foreign policy, particularly regarding China and Taiwan.
Trump’s rhetoric echoes this, urging weaker nations like Ukraine to accept terms dictated by stronger powers like the US.
Similarly, Lenin’s assertion that “there are decades when nothing happens, and then there are weeks when decades happen”, seems particularly relevant in the age of Trump, where global events unfold rapidly, reshaping history. Kautilya’s idea that “no means is beyond the scope of the ruler to expand territory and gain power” also finds resonance in today’s geopolitics, particularly with the US focusing on Taiwan and China.
A central figure in the evolving U.S. defense strategy is Elbridge Colby, Trump’s nominee for Undersecretary of Defense. Colby has argued that America should prioritise China over Europe and the Middle East, advocating for a more focused defense strategy. He has criticised Taiwan for not spending enough on its defense and urged Japan to increase its defense budget to 3 percent of its GDP. Colby’s views suggest a US retreat from global entanglements, leaving regional powers to handle their own security, while the US strengthens its military to confront China.
In Episode 1620 of Cut The Clutter, Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta discusses the implications of a US retreat from global entanglements, leaving regional powers to handle their own security while Washington strengthens its military to confront Beijing.
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