9/11 changed America's place in the world. What did Russia and China learn?
Summary
This episode examines how U.S. foreign policy choices since 9/11 reshaped its relationships with Russia and China. It contrasts the initial post-attack cooperation with the later erosion of trust caused by the Iraq War, the 2008 financial crisis, and the Afghanistan withdrawal. Guests Mikhail Ziger and Cindy Yu analyze how these events led Putin to view U.S. weakness as an opportunity for invasion and prompted China to pursue an independent geopolitical path.
Topics discussed
US envoys visit Moscow and Kyiv for peace talks
The 25-year shift in US-Russia and US-China relations
How the Iraq invasion and 2008 crisis changed perceptions
Early Putin: A pragmatic partner seeking Western ties
China's post-9/11 alignment and economic dependence
Impact of US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq on China
Russia's reaction to US actions and the Iraq precedent
Lessons from the 2008 crisis and Arab Spring for China
How the Arab Spring and Gaddafi's death shaped Putin
US withdrawal from Afghanistan as a signal of weakness
Historical view: US overextension and hubris
Closing remarks and production credits
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