Gates Warns of a Perilous Era as U.S. Faces China, Taiwan and Iran
Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates warns we are in a dangerous era with nuclear-armed rivals in Europe and Asia, notes China is closing the gap with the U.S. economically and technologically, and says the Xi–Trump meeting aimed to maintain a floor on ties rather than deliver decisive outcomes. He supports advancing Taiwan arms sales despite a backlog and urges rapid expansion of U.S. defense production to replenish stockpiles used in Ukraine. On Iran, he argues the only way to end its nuclear program is through negotiation that removes or dilutes enriched uranium, cautions the president cannot walk away and Israel cannot settle the issue alone, and critiques Netanyahu’s past assessments. He also discusses domestic Pentagon reforms and leadership shakeups, defends William & Mary against claims it’s a “woke” indoctrination center, and warns Cuba presents a risk of a new mass exodus if stability deteriorates.
