The U.S. military interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks left a lasting mark on global security dynamics. According to journalists Mikhail Zygar and Cindy Yu, the trajectory and outcomes of these conflicts provided critical lessons that helped reshape the long-term foreign policy ambitions of both Russia and China.
Zygar and Yu explain that Moscow and Beijing closely observed Washington's strategic commitments in the Middle East and South Asia. Over time, the geopolitical shifts resulting from these prolonged campaigns influenced how Russian and Chinese leadership evaluated Western military power and calculated their own positions in international affairs.
Ultimately, the global impact of the post-9/11 era extended far beyond the immediate battlefields. As Zygar and Yu highlight, the lessons drawn from America's post-9/11 military engagements continue to inform how Russia and China navigate their strategic ambitions and reframe contemporary global security.