A Hardheaded Guide to Deterring Russia and China
Photo by Lara Jameson from Pexels
BY Robert C. O’Brien and Alexander B. Gray
As Russia wages war against Ukraine, the debate over how to respond has grown increasingly disconnected from the reality of American power in a world of great-power competition. The political landscape has evolved from the post-Cold War era, when a bipartisan coalition of Washington elites could readily call for the projection of American power in faraway conflicts, especially in Europe, even if the connection to U.S. interests was attenuated. After 20 years of counterinsurgency in Iraq and Afghanistan, Americans are understandably weary of foreign entanglements.
Further, there is a growing consensus that China’s emergence as the foremost strategic competitor to the U.S. necessitates a renewed focus on the Indo-Pacific. Voices on the left and right question why America should care about Vladimir Putin’s latest adventurism and why we should commit our prestige, diplomatic capital, military sales and economic well-being to stop him.
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Robert C. O’Brien is a member of the Pacific Council. He is the National Security Advisor to President Trump. He is the former managing partner of Larson O'Brien LLP. His practice focuses on complex litigation and domestic and international arbitration. He previously served as the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs at the State Department with the rank of ambassador.
This article was originally published by The Wall Street Journal.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Pacific Council.
