The Russian invasion of Ukraine, an unprecedented saber-rattling between China and Taiwan – a lack of visionary leadership in the United States is also to blame for the tense geopolitical situation. That says the experienced US statesman Henry Kissinger (99). This creates conflicts.
In conversation with the «Wall Street Journal» the former US Secretary of State criticizes Washington’s foreign policy in clear terms. Washington rejects traditional diplomacy, no longer has a great head of state and US foreign policy is dangerously lacking in strategic goals. This, according to Kissinger, has pushed the world to the brink of war over Ukraine and Taiwan.
Kissinger lists a number of post-World War II leaders who combined “the far-sighted pragmatism of the statesman and the visionary daring of the prophet” – and “helped to shape the world”: Konrad Adenauer (1876-1967), Charles De Gaulle ( 1890-1970), Richard Nixon (1913-1994), Anwar Sadat (1918-1981), Lee Kuan-Yew (1923-2015) and Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013). When asked if he knew of such a contemporary leader, Kissinger replied: “No.”
Dangerous imbalance
In an interview with the newspaper, the former statesman speaks of a “dangerous imbalance” in the world situation. “We are on the brink of war with Russia and China,” Kissinger said. “We’ve caused questions and problems, sometimes with no idea of how this will end or where it will lead.”
Kissinger brings up the examples of Ukraine and NATO. Ukraine is a collection of territories that once belonged to Russia. Stability would be better served if Ukraine acted as a buffer between Russia and the West. “I was for Ukraine’s full independence, but I thought the best role would be something like Finland’s, a kind of interim solution,” he told the Wall Street Journal. Kissinger had already caused a stir before the war began when he suggested that careless US and NATO policies could have triggered the conflict in Ukraine.
Conflicts as a result of «enforcement of values»
Now the die has been cast: “I am now of the opinion that Ukraine, officially or not, must be treated as a NATO member.” How will the war end? Kissinger foresees an agreement in which Russia will keep its 2014 conquests in Crimea and parts of the Donbass region.
This summer, Kissinger was also sharply criticized by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy (44) for his suggestion that Kyiv must accept a return to the “status quo ante”, i.e. to the previous situation. Kyiv should give up its territorial claims in Crimea, grant autonomy to Donetsk and Lugansk – and seek a peace agreement with Russia to prevent World War III.
According to Kissinger, Washington has a leading role to play here. The management team would not notice this.
Do not further accelerate tensions
Under President Richard Nixon, Kissinger had orchestrated US diplomatic efforts towards China in the 1970s. These aimed to detach Beijing from Moscow and shift the balance of power in the world in favor of the communist east.
According to Kissinger, the US is no longer able to side with Russia or China against the other side. “The US can only try not to accelerate the tensions and create options. But you have to have a goal.” (kes)