Impact

Commercial Interests Masquerading as National Security Again?

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American Strategies, American, Strategies, U.S., China, Russia, Commercial Interests, National Security,

American Strategies Continue to Unravel

The U.S. has imposed numerous sanctions on Russia and China as part of its American strategies, citing national security. But is it really?

  • The sanctions include several industries, including finance, energy, and technology.
  • In the long run, will Uncle Sam find himself alone?

Every U.S. administration has had bones to pick with China and Russia. The Biden administration had their hands full dealing with these global powerhouses this year alone. And over half of those were within the context of national security. The U.S. even took major actions against them, including a litany of sanctions, under the guise of protecting its nation.

But is it really a matter of national security? or is there something else at play here?

Sanctions Free-for-all

These countries are frenemies at best. They only get along if they benefit from the outcome. Otherwise, it’s a sanction free-for-all.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed nearly 100 sanctions on Russia. All to, and I quote, “undermine Russia’s capacity to wage its war against Ukraine.” Every time Russia stepped out of line, or so to speak, the U.S. answered with sanctions targeting its banks, companies, government officials, and oligarchs. Not to forget whole industries of the Russian economy, such as energy, defense, and finance. Almost paralyzing the whole country. But was it really because Russia waged an unjust war? I don’t see it sanctioning anyone in the war in the Middle East, now. Do you?

As for China, the U.S.’s gloves came off last August when it announced several sanctions pertaining to a key global industry for AI development: Semiconductors. Some companies found loopholes, but the U.S. immediately shut them down with more restrictions. The reason? National security concerns.

Just look at the 2022 Biden-Harris Administration National Security Strategy. “[China] is the only competitor with both the intent to reshape the international order and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to do it.” Is that really the U.S.’s issue with Chinese industries? Doesn’t trading with ANY country pose the same security risks? Except most countries are not about to catch up with the U.S.’s tech industry…

Do you know what the big picture looks like? The U.S. holding a tipping scale, scared of a Russian-Chinese boogeyman under its bed. But here’s the thing. That boogeyman isn’t wearing military camouflage but a suit and tie, holding a briefcase bursting with trade deals and tech plans and blueprints.

Sure, the U.S. has Russia and China stuck between a rock and a hard place. But what about in the long run? Will this turn out to be its Catch-22? Russia and China are two of the biggest economies in the world. These sanctions could very well push them into each other’s arms. After all, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, isn’t he? And it won’t take that much work to make the U.S. public enemy #1. This might effectively rip away a large and growing market for its goods and services. The world is buzzing with talk of de-dollarization already. Who’s to say it won’t happen? What then?

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