Joel Rubin on Trump, Putin, Xi, and the Shifting Global Order

Troubling Global Alliances

• 🌍 A troubling moment for US national security is highlighted by the convergence of Russia, China, and India.
• 📉 This gathering suggests a potential tipping point in the wrong direction for the international order, impacting concerns over the Ukraine war and China's aggression.
• 🎯 The US strategy to isolate China and Russia, while building ties with India, appears to be undermined by this alignment.

Trump's Dismissal and Strategic Failures

• 🤷‍♂️ President Trump's dismissal of concerns about the Russia-China-India meeting is seen as embarrassing given his stated foreign policy goals.
• ❌ His past claims of resolving the Ukraine war and isolating China are challenged by the current geopolitical landscape.
• 🤝 The shift in US-India relations is described as dramatic and contrary to decades of US strategy.

Economic and Military Cooperation

• 💰 Strengthening economic alliances are evident between the leaders, with military alliances also on the rise.
• 🇷🇺 Russia is reportedly receiving support from North Korea and weaponry from China, showcased in a high-tech military display.
• ⚠️ This potential Chinese weaponry in Europe poses a direct threat to NATO and could prolong the war in Ukraine.

Hypersonic Missiles and Diplomatic Leverage

• 🚀 China's display of hypersonic missiles is viewed as a show of defiance towards the US.
• ❓ The key question is whether this is bluster or a genuine display of diplomatic and political capacity to deploy weapons that could threaten the US and Europe.
• ♟️ With India now distanced, the US faces a new geopolitical chessboard concerning China.

Reasserting American Pressure on Russia

• 🕊️ The political isolation of Russia has ended with the summit, giving Putin a diplomatic victory.
• ⚖️ For Trump to regain leverage, he must take action, such as enacting new sanctions measures that have been co-sponsored by 84 senators.
• 📈 Failure to act will likely result in continued Russian aggression against Ukraine.