Recommended Weekend Reads

May 19 -21, 2023

Here are our recommended reads from reports and articles we read in the last week. We hope you find these useful and have a great weekend.   And let us know if you or someone you know wants to be added to our distribution list.

·       “On the Night Watch: At Sea, On the Hunt for Russia’s Pipeline Saboteurs” Politico EU

Against a backdrop of growing confrontation with Moscow over its brutal invasion of Ukraine and its willingness to use energy as a weapon, the vulnerability of the undersea pipes and cables that deliver gas, electricity, and data to the Continent — the vital arteries of comfortable, modern European life — has been starkly exposed. In response, Norway, alongside NATO allies, increased naval patrols in the North Sea — an area vital for Europe’s energy security. The presence of the Bergen, day and night, in these unforgiving waters, is part of the effort to remain vigilant. The task of the men and women on board is to keep watch on behalf of Europe — and to stop the next Nord Stream attack before it happens. 

·       “How to ‘Friendshore” American Enterprise Institute

Friendshoring” is increasingly being discussed in Washington and elsewhere as a critical component of economic national security policy.  What is it? At its core, it is the relocation of manufacturing, supply chains, or both away from China and other geopolitically risky countries to friendlier ones. But there are a number of critical policy issues that have to be addressed to make friendshoring happen.  This paper examines what they are and how they can be achieved.

·       “The Future of European-Chinese Raw Material Supply Chains”  Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (German Institute for International and Security Affairs)

When it comes to being supplied with raw materials, Europe faces a number of challenges. These include the diversification of European supply chains, the implementation of effective sustainability standards, and the reduction of strategic dependencies on China. What will European-Chinese raw material supply chains look like in 2030? This paper outlines three possible scenarios.

·       “A BRICS Revival?” Ana Palacio, Project Syndicate

The former Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister and Senior Vice President of the World Bank takes a look at the BRICS’ and where it is going global diplomatic and financial force – especially now as 19 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Argentina, and Iran, have formally asked to join.  The next BRICS meeting is on June 2-3, 2023, in South Africa.

·       “Why America is Struggling to Stop the Fentanyl Epidemic: the New Geopolitics of Synthetic Opioids”  Foreign Affairs

The United States is suffering from the deadliest drug epidemic in its history. Overdoses claimed the lives of more than 100,000 Americans between August 2021 and August 2022 alone. Over the span of just a few years, drug deaths have doubled. Most of these overdoses involve fentanyl, which now kills around 200 Americans every day. Less talked about, but just as consequential, are the geopolitical obstacles that make it so hard for the U.S. government to plug the supply channels. 

·       “A Conversation with Henry Kissinger: The Transcript of his Meeting with The Economist Journalists”  The Economist

Over two days in late April 2023, The Economist spent over eight hours in conversation with Dr. Kissinger. Just weeks before his 100th birthday, the former secretary of state and national security adviser laid out his concerns about the risks of great power conflict and offered solutions for how to avoid it. This is a transcript of the conversation, lightly edited for clarity.

Chart of the Week 

Almost Half in the U.S. Worry About Their Money’s Safety in Banks; Majority of Republicans Worry the Most

Gallup reports that nearly half of Americans are worried about the money they have in bank accounts or other financial institutions.  A total of 48 percent of U.S. adults say they are concerned about their money, including 19 percent who are “very” and 29 percent who are “moderately” worried.

Interestingly, Republicans worry most about the safety of their money – 55 percent – closely followed by Independents at 51 percent.  These partisan levels of worry have grown considerably since the 2008 financial crisis.