How Harris and Walz Would Deal With Global Hot Zones

How would a Kamala Harris administration handle Ukraine, the war in Gaza and an increasingly fraught relationship with China?

Deep Dive

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – AUGUST 20: Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz walk off Air Force 2 at the Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport on August 20, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Posted: August 22nd, 2024

By Tom Nagorski

Tom Nagorski is the Managing Editor for The Cipher Brief. He previously served as Global Editor for Grid and served as ABC News Managing Editor for International Coverage as well as Senior Broadcast Producer for World News Tonight.

SUBSCRIBER+ EXCLUSIVE REPORTING – In the tumultuous and often unpredictable 2024 U.S. presidential campaign, this much is clear: the next occupant of the White House will find an inbox loaded with global security challenges. The new president will face wars in Europe and the Middle East (assuming they are still ongoing); an increasingly fraught relationship with China and the possibility of conflict over Taiwan; and a powerful new coalition of adversaries that some have labeled an “axis of authoritarians” – China, Russia, Iran and North Korea – working to counter the U.S. and the West.

A recent report issued by the congressionally-mandated Commission on the National Defense Strategy found that the U.S. is facing “the most challenging global environment with the most severe ramifications since the end of the Cold War.”

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