More than thirty years after the Soviet Union collapsed, the United States faces a familiar danger: a world dividing once again into rival camps. As Russia seeks to expand its influence, China pushes for greater power on the world stage, and authoritarian governments find more reasons to cooperate, an alarming question is beginning to emerge: Are we on the brink of a New Cold War?
As the world’s preeminent power, the United States has long had a unique responsibility to shape a future in which international cooperation prevails over conflict, and the lessons of history guide us toward a more stable and secure world.
Yet the United States now finds itself at a pivotal moment. Domestic political divisions and growing disputes over our role in the world are calling into question whether we will continue to lead the global order we helped build.
This uncertainty could have profound consequences for our foreign policy, and with global threats rising, the choices we make—or fail to make—will help define the world for decades to come.
In this article, we’ll discuss why a potential New Cold War could be on the horizon and what choices the United States must make to prevent it.
