The unipolar world is gone, the US lost its dominant position in the world, though still the most powerful country, says the former head of British intelligence, John Sawers. In his article for the Financial Times, he noted that the US, China and Russia should primarily reflect on global security and build their relationship so as not to engage in armed conflict with each other.
A priority of the next President of the United States to avoid direct conflict with China and Russia, deems the former head of British intelligence, John Sawers. In his article for the Financial Times, he writes that the world returns to a system of balance of power between the superpowers.
Both Beijing and Moscow now challenge the dominant US position in the world. The Chinese economy is already comparable to the us, China has invested heavily in its armed forces and uses them in the East China and South China seas. “President XI Jinping has set the strategy of Deng Xiaoping’s “Hide your brightness, wait the opportune moment” and it requires China’s weight and influence corresponding to his power,” writes the author.
In turn, Russia in economic terms slightly. However, the high oil prices has allowed it to modernize its armed forces, and the country has a full range of military capabilities to ensure their security and restore their spheres of influence abroad. In addition, “postprandial the world” – a vivid example of which is Donald trump and his arbitrary treatment of facts – is a gift to the Russian “propaganda machine”.
The unipolar world that has existed less than 25 years, and his death brought too ambitious wars and the financial crisis of 2007-2008. USA still the most powerful country, but they have already lost the global hegemony.
Russia wants to return to a world divided into spheres of power, where the three great powers will decide the issues of global security. However, China wants to see Russia more of a Junior partner, not an equal power. Confrontation with Washington, Beijing doesn’t want, but sees no way to cooperation between the great powers.
Meanwhile, America wants to maintain its dominant position and unwilling to adapt to the new distribution of influence. However, she failed to establish relations with either Russia or China.
Sawers believes that it is necessary to develop an approach that would put on top of the global stability. To do this the US needs to think of their own defence, which they ignored for the sake of “war on terror”. In addition, all three countries must recognize the systems of governments to each other and set a clear framework hostile actions, which all must adhere to. In particular it concerns the sphere of cybersecurity.
The author notes that many are unhappy with this approach to the relations between the two countries. Some will consider his wish to accept the “unacceptable behavior of non-democratic regimes”. “But we have to accept the world for what it is, not as we would like it to be. We can’t afford to get involved in the armed conflict between the great powers,” – said Sawers.
