Hello, Mr. Freeman. I've just subscribed, and I hope others will too. Your writing contributions to Substack are very generous and important.

As always, there are many takeaways, but your insistence on the term multi-nodal points to an underappreciated change in world relations, such as the maneuvering of middle-ranking countries. I'm thinking about your statement on the need for nations to have "self-interested relations" with "multiple competing hegemons." I am contrasting it with Carney's vision in his Davos speech. There are nuances between the two that will widen over time.

It seems that China, of all countries, embodies this selfish principle that middle-ranking powers should, or can, adopt in order not to risk the wrath of war's destruction.

Iran's national security state, embodied in the idea of Sacred Defense, seems to have been proven right, but at great cost, for exercising its national interests and defense. Russia's situation has similarities. But at least they have a clear sense of what counts as their national interests. I am not sure Europe really understands what its national or collective interests are, having mortgaged its foreign policy for many decades. It is fairly sad to watch. I'm hoping they heed history as a basis to avoid the worst of the conflict that is opening up.

Anyways, thank you for your work. I am not sure what to make of all of it, other than continually reading, tracking, and challenging my findings.