ThinkTankWeekly

America in a World of Upheaval

Foreign Affairs | 2026-04-02 | diplomacy

Topics: AI, China, Europe, Indo-Pacific, Middle East, NATO, Nuclear, Russia, Taiwan, Trade, Ukraine, United States

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English Summary

William J. Burns argues that the United States stands at a rare and consequential geopolitical inflection point, characterized by major power competition (China, Russia) and rapid technological change. He warns that the current shift toward hard-power nationalism and the erosion of established alliances and institutions is a form of "slow motion major power suicide." To maintain its global standing, the US must reject this trend and re-embrace a strategy of "enlightened self-interest." This requires blending military strength with soft power, prioritizing the rebuilding of trust among allies, and strengthening institutional cooperation to effectively play its strong hand.

中文摘要

威廉·J·伯恩斯(William J. Burns)指出,美國正處於一個罕見且極具影響力的地緣政治轉捩點,其特徵是主要大國(中國、俄羅斯)的競爭以及技術的快速變革。他警告稱,當前朝向硬實力民族主義的轉變,以及既有聯盟和制度的侵蝕,是一種「緩慢的大國自毀」現象。為維持其全球地位,美國必須拒絕這種趨勢,重新擁抱「開明的自身利益」戰略。這要求美國將軍事力量與軟實力相結合,優先重建盟國之間的信任,並加強制度性合作,從而有效地發揮其強大優勢。

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