Washington and Beijing have repeatedly stated their desire to prevent their relations from veering into a severe crisis or conflict. One way of doing this is for each side to offer credible assurances that it won’t threaten the most vital interests of the other. Unfortunately, despite some initial efforts, neither side has done so.
Asia-Pacific
French President Emmanuel Macron wants to establish France and Europe as the world’s “third pole of stability” by building bridges with Global South countries. But his credibility is undermined by his consistently demonstrated inability to attend to France’s own Global South—its overseas departments, regions and collectivities.
In August 2023, the U.S., Japan and South Korea agreed on a framework for trilateral cooperation to usher in a “new era” in relations among the three countries. The Camp David Principles are significant, but how meaningful they end up being will depend on whether the agreed-upon cooperative mechanisms can deliver practical results.