- September 24, 2025
- 12:26 pm
- World News
The main battle for the future of the world, as is commonly believed, is unfolding in Ukraine. However, for the USA, the struggle is increasingly taking place not in Europe, but in the Indo-Pacific region, where the fate of technology and global leadership is being decided. This clearly demonstrates how quickly Washington can switch from one area to another.
Why the Focus on Taiwan
On September 17, 2025, Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko announced that the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) invested $150 million in the Ukraine Recovery Fund. At the same time, the United States is discussing a massive $100 billion project from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC).
The contrast between these events is noticeable: Washington’s economic and security priority is now focused not on Europe or Ukraine, but on another continent.
The shift in the American administration’s attention towards Taiwan is explained by strategic priorities: the USA aims to outpace China, making Taiwan a key partner in this race.
TSMC is already building chip manufacturing plants in Arizona, combining America’s economic and security interests. Taiwan seeks not only to reduce the trade deficit but also actively purchases American weapons, participating in joint defense projects in the fields of drones and artificial intelligence. While Ukraine is forced to go through political battles for arms supplies, Taiwan integrates into these processes automatically as part of the broader U.S. strategy to contain China.
Despite political tensions, the USA actively pushes Taiwan towards integration into long-term strategic planning in case of a crisis in the Taiwan Strait. Like Ukraine, Taiwan faces constant conflict pressure, but for Washington, this focus is more strategically important as it addresses issues of technological leadership, and it is here that the USA sees the main front of confrontation with China.
China’s Global Ambitions Amid Western Weakening
In 2024, trade between Russia and China will reach $237 billion. For comparison, the volume of exports and imports between Ukraine and the USA will amount to only $4.27 billion.
Geopolitically, the war in Ukraine is advantageous for China as it opens opportunities to undermine the West’s influence on the world stage while strengthening its alliance with Russia.
Beijing refrains from direct military assistance to Russia, fearing consequences, but allows the export of dual-use goods, which effectively fuels the Russian military machine. While the West isolates the Kremlin, Beijing fills the resulting niche, supplying everything from oil to high technology.
This support reflects China’s strategic interest in maintaining close relations with Russia, especially under the increasing pressure of Western sanctions on both countries. The risk for the USA lies not only in the increased cooperation between China and Russia but also in Beijing’s simultaneous attempt to strengthen its position in Africa, which is becoming another arena for influence.
Recent events have shown that coups have occurred in former French colonies in Africa, resulting in pro-Russian military regimes coming to power. The new governments expel not only French but also American military presence. International interest in Africa can be explained by the presence of rare earth metals and critical minerals, key to high technology. China actively uses financial leverage, offering loans on unfavorable terms to organize the severance of diplomatic relations of African countries with others, particularly Taiwan and the USA.
Thus, China’s foreign policy indicates an aspiration to create a parallel global governance system, similar to the American and European ones.
There is a constantly changing perception of the USA’s role in international affairs, and countries of the Global South are increasingly demanding their voice in international relations.
The Role of Ukraine in International Confrontation
Amid the confrontation between the USA and China, a new architecture of global politics and economy is forming. Ukraine must determine its place in this configuration.
Why is this so important now?
Firstly, if Ukraine does not become a long-term strategic ally of the USA in the field of security, other states with similar potential may take this place. Washington has already demonstrated readiness to bet where it sees specific benefits.
Taiwan entered the U.S. strategy thanks to developments in chips and defense technologies. A vivid example of how this is implemented is Israel, which, as a result of deep cooperation with the USA after World War II, became a key partner in the Middle East region. This did not happen by chance, but thanks to a clear strategy: from military alliances to technological solutions and the role of a democratic stronghold. Ukraine also has unique potential: combat experience, defense innovations, and geopolitical positioning as a shield for Europe.
Secondly, if Kyiv does not build a long-term strategic alliance with Washington, it may find itself in the role of a partner of China and, ultimately, the Kremlin. In the event of an unfavorable truce, Russia will quickly regain strength due to the lifting of sanctions, while Ukraine will weaken due to reduced international funding.
According to Vadym Skibitsky, Deputy Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the Russian Federation plans to prepare its armed forces for a possible conflict with NATO by 2030. Under such conditions, Moscow’s strategically advantageous step would be “reconciliation,” offering Ukraine an alliance. This could pave the way for a return to the 1991 borders, but under Moscow’s dictate and within an authoritarian model. The price of such an “alliance” would be catastrophic: loss of independence, transformation into an instrument of Russian policy, curtailment of democracy, and a final transition to an authoritarian system.
Ukraine’s choice in this context is not to adapt to the rules of a new empire but to clearly assert: the desire to be part of the West, not to submit to foreign dictates.
By partnering with the West, Ukraine not only shares values but can also offer concrete benefits for both sides. The USA bets on Taiwan due to its technologies and defense cooperation. Ukraine, in turn, must formulate its own proposal to Washington about its indispensability.
In the field of technology, the emphasis should be on Ukrainian developments in drones, electronic warfare, and cybersecurity, which have already proven themselves in the fight against Russia.
In Africa, Ukraine can strengthen allies’ positions thanks to its own reserves of critical minerals, as well as using skills to counter hybrid operations. Ukraine has unique experience in combating Russian information operations and destabilization methods actively used by Moscow and Beijing, which can be perceived as an important contribution to strengthening the resilience of allies on the continent.
In the military sphere, Ukraine could transfer its proven tactics of drone use and UAV countermeasures, conduct joint training, and test new air defense and electronic warfare systems. The experience of the Ukrainian fleet in Black Sea operations could be valuable for forming the U.S. naval doctrine.
Using the West’s mandate and its own unique combat developments, Ukraine is capable not only of containing Russia but also of strengthening its allies while improving its international positions.
Only by integrating its technologies into the overall defense system and strengthening allies’ positions in Africa, Ukraine will not only remain an “object of assistance” but also become a full-fledged player on the new arena of global politics. In conditions where the main thing is the balance of power between Washington and Beijing, Ukraine must be a partner, not a burden. This is the path to asserting its place in the West.
Lack of European Vector: Betting on the USA
Kyiv must build a direct strategic partnership with the USA, not making it dependent on the EU’s position. Donald Trump emphasized that the USA’s willingness for a sanctions policy will depend on the unified position of NATO countries, including the refusal of Russian energy resources in favor of American ones. This indicates that America expects allies to choose in its favor, not to balance.
This is an obvious conclusion for Ukraine: in striving to become a key partner of Washington, it is necessary to offer strategic cooperation directly, not through Europe. Partnership is based on mutual interests: to receive support, Ukraine must offer its advantages — in the field of technology, security, and international resilience. Thus, the country can become a subject, not an object in the game of great powers.
Promises, declarations, and summits, often ending with empty photographs, point to an existing explanation: Washington’s strategic attention today shifts to the Indo-Pacific region, to China and Taiwan, where the question of global leadership and technological superiority is played out, putting Ukraine in the background.
Source – www.pravda.com.ua