"Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and their proxies. Yes, that is three of the four B.R.I.C. nations."
Aren't the BRIC countries Brazil, Russia, India, and China? AFAIK Brazil isn't playing maritime security games, so that makes two of the four BRICs as bad actors.
Interesting article. That map of Chinese port influence is sobering.
I have a friend who spent a couple years teaching in China and married a Chinese woman. He will go on and on about how China opens trade opportunities rather than sending in their military. I can't seem to convince him that in China the two are one and the same. He also can't quite seem to wrap his head around the fact that he never heard anything bad from Chinese citizens because they aren't allowed to say anything bad. He has a very whitewashed view of the influence of the CCP worldwide or across China.
Always be careful who you marry. I have seen many of a man change his view on a whole host of things when they married a woman with stronger will...and faith in their convictions...than their man.
It's interesting because he has always leaned quite left, now with everything going on is starting to have some distrust in government bureaucracies here in the US (I wouldn't say leans right but isn't quite as reflexively left/anti-right) but his faith in China seems unwavering. Not sure that it is the influence of his wife (I haven't met her yet but they are both older and it doesn't sound like a honey trap marriage), but rather the way the Chinese government presents itself in the big cities. They are very hands off and they can do that because everyone knows better than to criticize or complain. Could be years of control, could just be the Chinese way, to defer to a strong central authority.
Chinese cities can seem very free in a "let the good times roll" kind of way compared to American cities. Both in the lack of regulation and the lack of crime. tbh, nightlife is a lot better in China.
I don't think cops in China care if you're drinking a beer on the sidewalk, only if you're talking about Tibet or Winnie the Poo, or committing a real crime against property or people.
you've got a lot more faith in this gum beating (and other forms of beating off) than I do. It's adorable in a "bunch of high school drama kids condemning the bullying by the jocks" sort of way, but it reminds me of the late great Robin Williams talking about British police officers, "Stop. Or I'll say stop again!" They keep talking a good game while sitting on mommy's couch and eating bon-bons, getting fatter, and more out of shape with each day (and yes I include our own navy in this accusation.) At this point I'm not sure we can recover the naval power, and national/international will needed to protect the SLOC.
I read your post and thought of Bulwer-Lytton first and of a dark & stormy night. Bulwer-Lytton...Lytton Report, Sturm und Drang signifying nothing. A Mukden up mess. Good call, Jet.
I noticed the Red Sea was mentioned several times. Recently, the EU patted itself on the back for spending 7 billion Euros on securing the Red Sea. However, the USN seems to be doing the heavy lifting. I believe that the majority of Red Sea transits benefit Europe. Once again, the G-7 and others depend on the US for protection.
Doesn't the USN have other critical missions to execute rather than tying down a CSG and related air assets?
Perhaps you can consider this that perhaps, just maybe, the rest of the G-7 realizes that the USN is going to have bigger fish to (stir) fry in the foreseeable future as well as 3 1/2 years of US policy that is trying to retreat from what is seen as an unequal partnership. Add to that their sad state of naval affairs and that's quite the trifecta.
So they need to figure out how they don't end up being at the mercy of those named and unnamed bad actors when the inevitable happens.
Nice framework, if ever implemented. I am reminded of one of my college instructors, who said that G-7 decision making was like the mating of elephants. I asked why. His answer:
1. The entire process is accompanied by much trumpeting, stomping and obscured by dust clouds.
2. All the really interesting action takes place at a very high level, and
3, Nothing recognizable comes out for at least a year.
Our policy of tariffs is great! Do you think anyone will trade with China when they can deal with the United States and our big beautiful tariffs? We have the biggest and brightest tariffs of any nation in the world. Nobody will want to get in bed with a low tariff loser nation like China when our tariffs are the biggest!
I don't know what the rest of the G7 is really going to do. But, there is nothing new in what it takes to be a maritime power, we just need to look at what we did to do that in WWII. Congressman Vinson, in his naval bills that would build are navy sufficient to control both the Atlantic and Pacific, also provided for the building of infrastructure. And, the monies to build, Victory and Liberty ships, a merchant marine as well.
This is what China is doing. It's not just naval combatants, it a merchant marine. And the monies for all of these activities. Ship yards, dry docks, manning personnel all come from the Chinese government.
It is only the US that can be the great power that can counter China. Which means we need another Vinson to purchase all the elements of naval power--US Navy combatants, merchantmen, ship yards, dry docks and the salaries of all the attendant personnel. If the NIMBY and the EPA show up, the marine guards wil need to firmly show them the door.
Thanks for alerting to this, and putting it into reasonable context. I believe this statement is the follow-up to the "Lübeck Declaration" of 2015 when Germany headed/hosted the G-7.
"The CRINKS & their Proxies" ---- sounds like a bad K-Pop style cover band doing 80s hits
"Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and their proxies. Yes, that is three of the four B.R.I.C. nations."
Aren't the BRIC countries Brazil, Russia, India, and China? AFAIK Brazil isn't playing maritime security games, so that makes two of the four BRICs as bad actors.
You are correct. Math is hard. Mefixie.
Interesting article. That map of Chinese port influence is sobering.
I have a friend who spent a couple years teaching in China and married a Chinese woman. He will go on and on about how China opens trade opportunities rather than sending in their military. I can't seem to convince him that in China the two are one and the same. He also can't quite seem to wrap his head around the fact that he never heard anything bad from Chinese citizens because they aren't allowed to say anything bad. He has a very whitewashed view of the influence of the CCP worldwide or across China.
Always be careful who you marry. I have seen many of a man change his view on a whole host of things when they married a woman with stronger will...and faith in their convictions...than their man.
I know of a former CTI who is a major Sinophile. At one point, they were willing to waive that to get him back into uniform.
That was a long time ago.
It's interesting because he has always leaned quite left, now with everything going on is starting to have some distrust in government bureaucracies here in the US (I wouldn't say leans right but isn't quite as reflexively left/anti-right) but his faith in China seems unwavering. Not sure that it is the influence of his wife (I haven't met her yet but they are both older and it doesn't sound like a honey trap marriage), but rather the way the Chinese government presents itself in the big cities. They are very hands off and they can do that because everyone knows better than to criticize or complain. Could be years of control, could just be the Chinese way, to defer to a strong central authority.
Chinese cities can seem very free in a "let the good times roll" kind of way compared to American cities. Both in the lack of regulation and the lack of crime. tbh, nightlife is a lot better in China.
I don't think cops in China care if you're drinking a beer on the sidewalk, only if you're talking about Tibet or Winnie the Poo, or committing a real crime against property or people.
Have him watch laohway86 and serpentza on YouTube. They worked years in China,married Chinese women, and have a VERY different opinion of China.
Summary: The world is wet. Us, good. Them, bad.
you've got a lot more faith in this gum beating (and other forms of beating off) than I do. It's adorable in a "bunch of high school drama kids condemning the bullying by the jocks" sort of way, but it reminds me of the late great Robin Williams talking about British police officers, "Stop. Or I'll say stop again!" They keep talking a good game while sitting on mommy's couch and eating bon-bons, getting fatter, and more out of shape with each day (and yes I include our own navy in this accusation.) At this point I'm not sure we can recover the naval power, and national/international will needed to protect the SLOC.
Maybe not enough coffee and just not getting it. It sounds more like a modern Lytton Report and the League of Nations than anything else.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lytton_Report#:~:text=Japan%20gave%20formal%20notice%20of,conquest%20would%20not%20be%20recognized.
I read your post and thought of Bulwer-Lytton first and of a dark & stormy night. Bulwer-Lytton...Lytton Report, Sturm und Drang signifying nothing. A Mukden up mess. Good call, Jet.
Great article.
I noticed the Red Sea was mentioned several times. Recently, the EU patted itself on the back for spending 7 billion Euros on securing the Red Sea. However, the USN seems to be doing the heavy lifting. I believe that the majority of Red Sea transits benefit Europe. Once again, the G-7 and others depend on the US for protection.
Doesn't the USN have other critical missions to execute rather than tying down a CSG and related air assets?
Perhaps you can consider this that perhaps, just maybe, the rest of the G-7 realizes that the USN is going to have bigger fish to (stir) fry in the foreseeable future as well as 3 1/2 years of US policy that is trying to retreat from what is seen as an unequal partnership. Add to that their sad state of naval affairs and that's quite the trifecta.
So they need to figure out how they don't end up being at the mercy of those named and unnamed bad actors when the inevitable happens.
Nice framework, if ever implemented. I am reminded of one of my college instructors, who said that G-7 decision making was like the mating of elephants. I asked why. His answer:
1. The entire process is accompanied by much trumpeting, stomping and obscured by dust clouds.
2. All the really interesting action takes place at a very high level, and
3, Nothing recognizable comes out for at least a year.
So no word on turning Yemen into a protectorate?
Informative piece explaining in detail why allies and international consensus building are necessary.
Unfortunately the clowns are trying to wreck every alliance and international institution we have.
Dude,
Our policy of tariffs is great! Do you think anyone will trade with China when they can deal with the United States and our big beautiful tariffs? We have the biggest and brightest tariffs of any nation in the world. Nobody will want to get in bed with a low tariff loser nation like China when our tariffs are the biggest!
We put bigger tariffs on Vietnam and Cambodia than we did on China! That proves that we love them more!
And nothing says "love" like "we'd like to eat a piece of you, Denmark!"
And Russia, our enemy, "no tariffs for you, tovarishch." Too bad, so sad.
Imposing tariffs while negotiating an end to hostilities in Ukraine is something only a dolt would do.
I don't know what the rest of the G7 is really going to do. But, there is nothing new in what it takes to be a maritime power, we just need to look at what we did to do that in WWII. Congressman Vinson, in his naval bills that would build are navy sufficient to control both the Atlantic and Pacific, also provided for the building of infrastructure. And, the monies to build, Victory and Liberty ships, a merchant marine as well.
This is what China is doing. It's not just naval combatants, it a merchant marine. And the monies for all of these activities. Ship yards, dry docks, manning personnel all come from the Chinese government.
It is only the US that can be the great power that can counter China. Which means we need another Vinson to purchase all the elements of naval power--US Navy combatants, merchantmen, ship yards, dry docks and the salaries of all the attendant personnel. If the NIMBY and the EPA show up, the marine guards wil need to firmly show them the door.
Thanks for alerting to this, and putting it into reasonable context. I believe this statement is the follow-up to the "Lübeck Declaration" of 2015 when Germany headed/hosted the G-7.
https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/newsroom/270810-270810