As the dust settles from the showdown between Trump and Harris on Tuesday, many of us are trying to assess what the debate means for the election. Such unscripted interactions, outside of familiar and comfortable settings, are rare moments. They present perhaps the most clarity on what a candidate will do on the most consequential issues.
While much of the focus is on the impact on the US domestically, from voters to the economy, the debate has an equally significant meaning for the world stage.
As the candidates reminded each other of what they did wrong or what they said, geopolitics was not far-removed. It made multiple quick appearances and quietly loomed around the broader discussions.
Below are six takeaways as to what the Trump-Harris debate means for world affairs.
1. ENERGY SOVEREIGNTY
Whether it was Russia supplying energy to Europe or America doubling-down on fracking, energy came a close second to immigration as the most discussed issue. As Trump and Harris sparred over who would support the US energy industry more, it became clear that conversations about America’s energy security have evolved into conversations about America’s “energy sovereignty.” Through domestic sources (i.e. fracking) and friendly foreign sources (i.e. not Russia), the US wants to change its energy matrix in a way that guarantees it won’t face a situation like Europe today (with Russian energy) or America in the past (like with the 1973 oil embargo). Whoever wins will further redesign the American energy supply chain, including building on new achievements, like America being the world’s biggest exporter of LNG, converging US energy goals and foreign policy goals in a new way.
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