Episode Details

The first weeks of 2026 have seen a whirlwind of US foreign policy actions.In this urgent episode of the Silk and Steel Podcast, host Carl Zha is joined once more by Dr. Warwick Powell, an expert on international relations and China, to dissect the Trump administration's aggressive moves against Venezuela, Iran, and Greenland. These actions are explicitly framed as efforts to "clip China's wings," but what are the real motives and likely outcomes?We analyze the strategic logic, the cartoonish worldview driving Washington's decisions, and what China's calm, long-game response means for the future of global power.📚 Relevant Links:Subscribe to the Silk and Steel Podcast for more analysis.Follow Carl Zha for host perspectives.Dr. Powell's Substack (for in-depth analysis): warwickpal.substack.comDr. Powell on X (for commentary): @baoshaoshan
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00:00 - Introduction & Overview of a Chaotic Start to 202602:10 - Framing the Strategy: US "Global Primacy" vs. New Realities04:55 - The "Cartoonish" Worldview in Washington & The Venezuela Oil Myth07:02 - Why China & Russia Won't Militarily Intervene: Strategic Patience vs. Knee-Jerk Reactions11:25 - The Power of Non-Interference: China's Soft Power & Economic Leverage15:05 - Debunking the "Reverse Domino Theory": The Nuclear Reality16:40 - The Spoiler Playbook: How a Declining Hegemon Tries to Divide & Conquer20:55 - "China Builds, US Bombs": Can a Spoiler Strategy Actually Work?23:40 - The Achilles' Heel: US Military Dependency on Chinese Supply Chains27:10 - The Greenland Grab: Trophy, Resources, or Message to Europe?33:45 - Iran Deep Dive: Regime Change on the Cheap? Starlink, Currency Wars & Failed Protests40:30 - The 25% Tariff Threat: Frustration, Bluster, and Unintended Consequences45:05 - America's Economic Malaise: The "Politics of Nostalgia" vs. 21st-Century Realities52:55 - Outlook for 2026: Domestic Politics, Midterm Elections, and More Messiness57:15 - China's Unflappable Long-Game & The Inevitable Forces of a Multipolar World01:01:35 - Final Thoughts & Where to Find Dr. Warwick Powell