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🚨 Is the supposed “detente” between the US and China just a tactical pause before a bigger confrontation? And why is the Trump administration suddenly cranking up aggression towards Venezuela to eleven? In this dense and urgent episode of the Silk and Steel podcast, Carl Zha is joined by journalist and geopolitical analyst Ben Norton to dissect the shifting strategies of the US empire. They break down the reality behind the “decoupling” narrative, the new Cold War against China, and the alarming escalation in Latin America that could plunge the region into chaos.
👇 LINKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED 👇
Ben Norton’s Website: Geopolitical Economy Report
[Article] The US plan to develop a new supply chain for critical minerals: (Search on Geopolitical Economy Report)
[Article] US military strikes in the Caribbean & Venezuela strategy: (Search on Geopolitical Economy Report)
💡 KEY TAKEAWAYS 💡
No Detente, Just a Strategy Shift: Ben argues there is no genuine detente with China, but a short-term de-escalation to allow the US to “decouple” its economy and prepare for more severe medium-to-long-term confrontation.
Decoupling is for Escalation: The US push to decouple from China is not about economics, but about minimizing blowback to the US when it imposes even harsher sanctions in the future, akin to those on Russia.
Tech War is Protectionism: Tariffs on Chinese EVs (like BYD) and attempts to ban AI models (like DeepSeek) are not about national security but about protecting uncompetitive US tech giants (like Tesla and OpenAI) from superior, cheaper Chinese products.
Latin America is the New Front: With direct confrontation with China too risky, the US is pivoting to solidify hegemony in its “backyard” (the Monroe Doctrine), targeting China’s allies and partners to isolate it.
Venezuela is the Immediate Target: The US is using a fabricated “drug cartel” narrative (similar to the WMD lie in Iraq) to justify military escalation against Venezuela, a key Chinese partner and the country with the world’s largest oil reserves.
Military Action is Likely: Ben assesses there is a high likelihood of US missile or airstrikes on Venezuelan territory. A full-scale invasion is less likely, but special forces operations and attempts to seize oil infrastructure are on the table.
Marco Rubio is a Key Architect: As the simultaneous Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, Marco Rubio holds unprecedented power and is a lifelong hawk dedicated to overthrowing the governments of Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua.
💬 CONNECT WITH GUEST 💬
Website: Geopolitical Economy Report
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⏰ TIMESTAMPS / CHAPTERS ⏰
00:00 – Introduction
01:45 – Ben Norton’s work and focus
03:20 – Is a US-China “Detente” Really Happening?
08:30 – The Evolution of the US Cold War on China: From Obama to Trump to Biden
15:45 – The Logic of “Decoupling” and Economic War
23:50 – The Real Reason the US is Attacking Chinese Tech (EVs, AI, Huawei)
33:10 – The “Electron Gap”: How Silicon Valley Uses the China Threat to Get Money
38:45 – PIVOT: Why the US is Escalating Aggression in Latin America
42:20 – The Monroe Doctrine & Solidifying the US “Backyard”
47:15 – The Strategic Importance of Venezuela’s Oil and Resources
52:30 – The “Drug Cartel” Lie: The New WMDs for Venezuela
57:45 – How Likely is a US Military Attack on Venezuela?
01:01:30 – The 3 Scenarios for US Intervention (Airstrikes, Invasion, Covert Ops)
01:07:10 – The Key Role of Marco Rubio as Secretary of State & National Security Advisor
01:12:25 – Cold War II: A Pessimistic Outlook for the Coming Decades
01:16:40 – Final Thoughts & Where to Find Ben’s Work