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Everything, Everywhere, All at Once: The Future of U.S. Strategy

CFR | 2026-05-24 | china_indopacific

Topics: AI, China, Europe, Middle East, NATO, Nuclear, Russia, Trade, Ukraine, United States

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English Summary

The article argues that the United States faces an era of unprecedented global complexity—marked by great power competition, unresolved regional conflicts, and rapid technological shifts (AI)—rendering the current strategic status quo unsustainable. Key evidence includes the heightened geopolitical tension between China and Russia, coupled with global health and economic instability. Despite deep domestic political polarization, the authors note a growing bipartisan consensus that fundamental changes are required for U.S. international leadership. Therefore, the implication is that the U.S. must undertake a comprehensive, 'blue-sky' rethinking of its strategy, moving beyond partisan divides to address systemic global challenges.

中文摘要

本文論述美國正處於一個前所未有的全球複雜時代,其特徵包括大國競爭、未決的區域衝突,以及快速的技術變革(如人工智慧),使得現行的戰略既有狀態難以為繼。關鍵證據包括中國與俄羅斯之間升高的地緣政治緊張局勢,以及全球健康和經濟的不穩定性。儘管國內政治兩極化嚴重,作者們指出,兩黨之間正形成一種共識,認為美國的國際領導地位需要進行根本性的改變。因此,其啟示是美國必須進行一次全面性的、開創性的戰略重思,超越黨派分歧,以應對系統性的全球挑戰。

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