Three years ago, I shared my memory of the time I had to keep representatives from the Soviet Embassy and the Chinese Embassy from crossing paths in my office in Washington, D.C.(“Ch. 7 – Life With Walter,” February 2, 2023.)

That was in the early 1980s, when the two countries were bitter enemies, and we could not have them bumping into each other under our roof. I used to joke that I prevented World War III that day, which is probably a slight exaggeration; it actually took three people to pull off that little Keystone Kops maneuver. But we did it.

It is now 2026, and oh! how things have changed.

Aside from a shared political ideology (authoritarianism), modern-day Russia and China have found common ground in their efforts to structure a new world economic force to rival, or even replace, the dollar-based economy of the West.

And with Donald Trump working day and night to destroy what is left of the United States’ standing as the preeminent power of the free world, their drive toward world dominance is clearly well served by their close cooperation.

This week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is in Beijing, meeting with his counterpart, Wang Yi. According to a statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry:

“A thorough exchange of views is expected on a number of ‘hot topics’ and regional issues, including the Ukrainian crisis and the situation in the Middle East” . . . as well as Chinese-Russian cooperation at multilateral bodies including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, BRICS, the G20, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the United Nations (in which both countries are permanent members of the Security Council). [Reid Standish and Colin Hood, RFE/RL, April 14, 2026.]

In 1964, in the midst of the Vietnam War, Bob Dylan wrote and recorded what became an anthem for the anti-war movement of that decade: The Times They Are A-Changin’. He was right — things were indeed changing in ways no one had imagined. But that was nothing compared to this past decade.

What we are seeing now is the beginning of a new world order — and not the one Bob Dylan’s and my generation fought for. We probably won’t be around to see it come to full fruition . . . but I fear for the future of our children’s children.

And knowing that my country’s elected leadership enabled it is more than I can bear.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
4/15/26