Condoleezza Rice Warns U.S. Must Lead or Risk China’s Global Dominance

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice issued a stark warning this week about the dangers of the United States stepping back from its global leadership role, particularly in the face of rising threats from China and Russia. In an interview on PBS’ Firing Line with Margaret Hoover, Rice stressed that if the U.S. turns inward and embraces isolationism, the void will quickly be filled by authoritarian powers that don’t share American values.

Rice’s remarks come as the U.S. grapples with a growing sentiment of fatigue after years of foreign entanglements, a feeling she acknowledged while cautioning against its consequences. “We’ve been through a lot,” she said, noting the long decades of foreign policy challenges the nation has faced. However, Rice made it clear that there is no viable alternative to the U.S. continuing its role as the dominant power on the global stage.

Rice emphasized that great powers like China and Russia will eagerly step in to replace American influence if the U.S. retreats. “The great powers that would supplant American power are not ones that share our values, will not uphold our interests,” she said. China, in particular, has made significant strides in expanding its global influence, from its Belt and Road Initiative to its growing military presence in key regions.

According to Rice, isolationism is not an option. “There’s this notion that if we leave the playing field, it’ll be okay,” she said. But the reality is far different. If America steps back, Rice argues, we will be ceding control of the international system to regimes that have no interest in preserving freedom, democracy, or peace.

Rice’s words serve as a powerful reminder that global leadership is not just about power but also about safeguarding values and interests. A retreat from the world stage would allow adversaries like China and Russia to reshape the global order in ways that could harm American security and economic stability for generations to come.

With China’s ambitions growing and Russia’s aggressive behavior continuing to destabilize regions like Ukraine and Eastern Europe, Rice’s message couldn’t be more urgent: America must lead, or risk losing its position as the world’s preeminent power.

As debates about America’s foreign policy role heat up ahead of the 2024 elections, Rice’s call to action should be a wake-up call for those advocating a withdrawal from global affairs. The consequences of such a retreat could be dire not just for the U.S., but for the world.

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