Two articles and a speech that are highly relevant to international affairs and are subjects of note on this Substack

Niccolo Soldo

May 30, 2023

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At this moment I am impatiently tapping my fingers, awaiting the answers to my questions from my selected interview subject. I wanted to publish this interview well over a week ago, but I cannot force others to write. I know how much all of you want new interviews to be published here. Please bear with me.

In the meantime, there are two articles and one speech that I would like to draw your attention to, as the timing and the subject matter make them highly relevant, especially to this Substack. Let’s turn to those now.

The War Against Ukraine as a “Revolt Against the US-Led Global Order”

As you’ve heard me say dozens of times previously, the USA achieved its main goal on the first day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine as it quickly led to the complete severance of Russian political and economic ties to Europe, forcing the continent into “US protectorate” status. Everything since then has been about bleeding Russia as much as possible by gently and gradually raising Western involvement step-by-step.

The light touch that Russia used in the first phase of the war surprised everyone, including me. Why they approached this conflict in this matter is of great interest to us all, but we will have to wait years until we receive a definitive answer. Over-confidence is surely part of the equation.

Two other facts have surprised many observers, especially the Americans:

1. the resilience of the Russian economy, which was supposed to have collapsed by this point in the conflict
2. the West’s isolation, whereby diplomacy has failed to bring Latin America, Asia, and Africa aboard the sanctions regime targeting Moscow

It’s this second surprise that forms the basis of a recently-held lecture by British-American Russia hawk (and former US National Security Council official under President Trump) Fiona Hill. In it, she warns of global fatigue with constant US demands, insisting that a new approach and new language is required to maintain dominance even as the old order is ebbing away.

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