Great Power Competition Series: Convergence of Russia and China

In this program LTC Alex Vindman, USA (Ret) explores the convergence of Russia and China, as it relates to United States National Defense Policy. China and Russia have grown closer together diplomatically and militarily as the United States has turned its attention away from low intensity conflicts with state and non-state actors to high intensity military challenges those countries pose. This change is directed at the rise “near-peer” competitors – especially China, which poses the greater geopolitical challenge in the long run.  Russian and Chinese interests do not completely converge, but they have a common interest in reducing the international influence of the United States so they can pursue their own priorities.

Alexander S. Vindman, Lieutenant Colonel U.S. Army (Retired), is doctoral student and a Foreign Policy Institute Fellow at Johns Hopkins, School of Advanced International Studies, a Pritzker Military Fellow at Brooking’s Lawfare Institute, a non-resident fellow at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perry World House, and the author of the forthcoming memoir, Here, Right Matters.

Moderator: Captain John “Jay” Allen Williams, PhD, USNR (Retired) is a former Professor of Political Science at Loyola University Chicago and holds degrees from Grinnell College (B.A.) and the University of Pennsylvania (M.A. and Ph.D.). His writings include works on military strategy, military forces and missions, catastrophic terrorism, defense organization, civil-military relations, military culture, military professionalism and leadership, personnel issues, professional military education, as well as strategic policy.