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A Moment of Particular Challenge
The global economy is doing far better than expected now, but the geopolitical situation is in a recession, according to World Economic Forum President Børge Brende.
“This is a moment of particular challenge,” agreed Secretary of State Antony Blinken, “because in many ways, … we’re at an inflection point.”
“There are fundamental changes taking place in terms of geopolitical competition but also global challenges that no country can effectively address alone, where the decisions that we make in these moments are likely to have repercussions not just for the next years, but for decades to come,” he said.
“For the United States in this moment,” said Secretary Blinken, “we can’t effectively do and meet these challenges alone, as large and as powerful as the United States is.” That is why the United States “is revitalizing, reimagining, reinvigorating alliances, partnerships around the world.”
“Two quick examples,” said Secretary Blinken. “On Ukraine, we were able to bring so many countries together, not just in Europe but beyond, because countries recognize that there was an aggression not only against Ukraine but against some of the foundational principles of the international system. And if we let that challenge go with impunity, then it was likely that would-be aggressors everywhere would take note and we would have a world of more conflict, not less conflict.”
“In Asia, we have the most consequential, and in many ways complicated, relationship with China,” said Secretary Blinken.
“We’ve approached it from a position of strength – the aspects where we’re competitive, the aspects where we’re cooperative, the aspects where we’re contesting. And that strength has to do with the fact that there’s now greater convergence than at any time I can remember between us, key partners in Europe, key partners in Asia, and in other places on approaching some of the challenges posed by China.”
“It’s really two sides of the same coin,” said Secretary Blinken. “One is that we’re determined … that countries continue to look to the United States to be engaged and to lead.
“The other side of the coin is that … more than at any time since I’ve been involved in these issues, which goes back 30 years now,” said Secretary Blinken, “we have to find cooperative, collaborative responses, because none of us have the ability to effectively deal with these challenges alone. So [the United States] put[s] a premium on that more than anything else.”