Patrick Cronin appears on the Defense and Aerospace Podcast to discus political chaos in Washington and its impact on international relations, Chinese and Russian influence operations (minute 17), and Beijing’s sensitivity to soft power—from soccer star Lionel Messi’s snub during a football match in Hong Kong to Taylor Swift’s immense popularity (minute 37).
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth greets Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Christopher Cavoli before the North Atlantic Council meeting of defense ministers on February 13, 2025, in Brussels, Belgium. (Omar Havana via Getty Images)