Cyberwarfare is likely to be at the center of geopolitical disputes for a long time to come, strategists told CNBC.
When asked whether ever-improving ties between China, Saudi Arabia and Russia could be detrimental to the U.S. next year, John Studzinski, vice chairman at Blackstone Group, told CNBC: “They are a reaction to the fact that the U.S. has been increasingly passive about managing its own foreign policy.”
While China has stepped in to displace the U.S. on the global stage, Russia has “astutely” chosen to prioritize investments in cyberdefense over military spending, according to Studzinski. This had led to Moscow becoming the “masters” of so-called “cyber foreign policy,” he added.
Ties between Russia and the U.S. have plummeted to their lowest level since the Cold War era. The relationship breakdown was initially triggered by Russia’s annexation of Crimea and alleged part in the destabilization of eastern Ukraine. As a result, Moscow is currently enduring the sharp end of tough international sanctions from Washington.
