Three Powers

2020s
Military bases
Russian proxy wars
Chinese global ambitions
Aging nuclear missiles
Nuclear powerplants


	Global Three-Way The world has now settled into the triangular power structure shown above. Russia and China still share communist sympathies, but have separated into distinct power centers. Russia retains just a shadow of its former importance, but still has its nukes. The Chinese are building military capability, while simultaneously seeking to infiltrate the world with economic investments. The US struggles to keep democracy viable.



	Russia Still Involved Russia is by far the weakest of the Big Three, but continues to support proxy wars all over the Muslim world. It's especially active in Africa, with wide-ranging military support provided by the Russian-financed Wagner Group At the same time, President Putin is stirring up trouble in Ukraine, in an effort to restore the former glory of the Soviet Union. Ukraine is the former bread-basket of Russia, and also contains important mineral resources.


	Chinese Money The YELLOW circles above indicate the dollar value of Chinese investments all over the world, including America. There is scarcely a country that has not received economic assistance. Note also the BLUE dots, which are shipping ports all around the globe operated by the Chinese. Some are Chinese-owned, as well.


	Recent Conflict The map above shows conflict in just the past few years, through 2024. Ukraine, Syria and the Sudan are the three hot spots.


	Missiles Still on Standby Few Americans are still worried about nuclear war, although they should be. International nuclear stockpiles and missile silos are still functional, with many still set to a hair trigger in both the US and Russia. The handful of other countries with nukes pose little real threat, but may yet resort to some form of nuclear blackmail. Pakistan remains a wild card.


	Civilian Nuclear Power Nuclear plants are widely used around the developed world to generate electricity, though many are now showing their age. The US and Britain, which have little dependence upon imported oil, have retired many nuclear plants, mostly due to concerns about accidents, and the disposal of spent fuel. But central Europe is still highly dependent upon imported oil, and operates the greatest concentration of nuclear plants. Germany has recently closed its plants, despite its energy dependence.