The Transatlantic Relationship's 5G Dilemma

The U.S.-U.K. intelligence-sharing relationship suffered a blow last week, with the United Kingdom's announcement that it would allow Huawei to build out portions of the U.K.'s 5G network.

A number of EU lawmakers, as well, have chosen to allow the Chinese telecom giant to participate in European telecom networks, despite recent reports such as those found in leading German newspaper Handelsblatt that reveal the extent of Huawei's cooperation with Chinese intelligence services.

The temptations of lower-cost technology, subsidized by the Chinese government, poses a major risk to the Five Eyes security alliance. Can the transatlantic relationship survive this new challenge?

In an interview on BBC [[link removed]] World at One [[link removed]], Tim Morrison discusses why the U.K.'s decision to allow Huawei in puts the U.S. at risk:

"In 5G there is no fringe. There is only core. So if Huawei is allowed into any part of your network, it's allowed into every part of your network."

On the BBC [[link removed]], he spoke about the direct link between the Chinese Communist Party and Huawei:

"The Chinese Communist Party passed a law in 2016, requiring every Chinese person and every Chinese company to be responsive to the Chinese government when they ask for citizens to steal intellectual property. When they ask for companies to give the party access, they have to do it. It's the law. Look at what's going on in the Uighur concentration camps, the millions of Muslims being detained...[and] whats going on with the...secure city initiatives. Huawei is a key enabler of everything the Chinese Communist Party is doing."

In The Telegraph [[link removed]], Rob Spalding outlines why this decision has national security implications for the United States:

"I contend Huawei clearly poses a national security threat to the UK. I refer here not to the argument about data, which will follow, but instead to the fact that it threatens to create a rift in the UK-US alliance that has sustained in peace since the end of World War II."

Hudson Institute recently hosted [[link removed]] Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cyber and International Communications and Information Policy, Rob Strayer, who spoke about the need for setting universal standards for 5G development and emphasized the need for transparency:

"Our market-driven, private-sector-led approach is substantially different from approaches favored in other parts of the world, including in China. Standards developing in the United States is a public-private partnership in which government participates alongside industry to drive the best technologies and solutions forward to reduce friction in trade and reduce cost to consumers. Trust cannot exist where telecom vendors are subject to an authoritarian government, like the People's Republic of China, that lacks an independent judiciary or rule of law that will prevent the misuse of data or disruption of critical infrastructure."

Quotes have been edited for length and clarity

Hudson Highlights

In Wall Street Journal [[link removed]], Walter Russell Mead writes about how China's economic uncertainty may pose a greater threat than the coronavirus.

Husain Haqqani details in The Print [[link removed]] how Pakistan's generals are exacerbating national challenges, not solving them.

In Wall Street Journal [[link removed]], Doug Feith writes how to best think about President Trump's plan for peace in the Middle East.

Rebeccah Heinrichs takes stock of how the recent Iranian missile attacks underscores the need for better defense overseas in The Hill [[link removed]].

Tim Morrison highlights the need for a new approach to digital currency by U.S. policymakers in Foreign Policy [[link removed]].

New Episode of The Realignment

On the latest episode [[link removed]] of The Realignment, Saagar and Marshall sat down with Klon Kitchen to discuss how those on the Right are weighing the influence of big tech on everyday life.

Commentary

China

On Fox News [[link removed]], Michael Pillsbury discussed how China is trying to shift blame for the global coronavirus outbreak by using propaganda and misinformation:

“The account seems to be confused...China is sending mixed messages. What makes things worse...[are] the rumors being started on the Chinese internet that America planted this virus as a kind of germ warfare attack on China."

Tim Morrison weighed in on how effectively responding to the coronavirus will test the Trump administration's ability to navigate a potential global crisis on CNN [[link removed]]:

"'The role of the NSC under the Trump administration has been restored to one of coordinating policy,' Morrison said. 'They are well and ably staffed to do everything we could ask them to do, to coordinate the interagency to deal with a coronavirus.'"

Middle East

On Fox Business [[link removed]], Rebeccah Heinrichs breaks down the bipartisan support in Israel for President Trump's peace plan:

"What's different about this approach...compared to previous attempts...is that the United States worked with the Israeli government and there is a bipartisan agreement within the Israeli government."

In The Washington Times [[link removed]], Husain Haqqani outlined the moves Iran is making in Afghanistan to erode U.S. influence and exact revenge for the death of Qasem Soleimani:

"'If the Iranians want to inflict damage on the Americans, why not do it in a theater where any retribution or retaliation won’t affect the Iranians directly?' Mr. Haqqani said. 'If the Iranians exact revenge for the Soleimani strike through the Taliban in Afghanistan, it’s no skin off of Iran’s back. What will the Americans do, stop talking to the Taliban? Iranian support gives Taliban leaders based in Pakistan deniability so they can claim — in the midst of sensitive U.S.-Taliban talks — that some attacks against Americans in Afghanistan are actually coming from Iran, Mr. Haqqani said.'"

In an interview on the John Batchelor Show [[link removed]], Michael Pregent discussed the current uncertainty within Iraq and Iran's ongoing destabilizing actions in the Middle East:

"We have a government in Baghdad that can't protect the U.S. Embassy, won't protect the U.S. Embassy, and won't do anything against the Iranian militia. We are partnering with a government that does not want to partner with us because they are terrified of Tehran."

Quotes have been edited for length and clarity

Upcoming Events

Friday, February 7

11:45 a.m.

NATO and the New Decade: Assessing the Transatlantic Alliance [[link removed]]

Featuring Peter Rough and Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană

Monday, February 10

1:30 p.m.

Containing the Coronavirus: Challenges to Thwarting the Outbreak [[link removed]]

Featuring Eric Brown, Daniel Chertow, Julie Gerberding, William Karesh, Tim Morrison, and Joe Lieberman

In Case You Missed It

Read: W [[link removed]] alter Russell Mead on how a strong Germany could save Europe [[link removed]]

Read: Hank Cardello on what the food industry must do to respond to growing threats [[link removed]]

Read: Nate Sibley on the corruption in the global financial system [[link removed]]

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