The President’s Inbox Are We Ready? | The Economic Security Challenge, With Jonathan Hillman
Dec 3, 2025
In this discussion, Jonathan Hillman, a senior fellow for geoeconomics at the Council on Foreign Relations, dives deep into U.S. economic security amid rising global challenges. He explores the vulnerabilities exposed by COVID-19, particularly in supply chains for medical equipment and semiconductors. Hillman highlights the strategic stakes in AI, quantum computing, and biotechnology, discussing the risks of over-reliance on China. He urges practical steps like onshoring and strengthening data-center supply chains to bolster American innovation and security.
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AI Strengths Mask Supply Risks
- The U.S. remains strong in AI investment but faces supply-chain and infrastructure dependencies.
- CHIPS Act helped but data-center components and networking gear still create strategic risk.
Quantum's Dual Urgency
- China leads in quantum communications while the U.S. stays competitive in quantum computing.
- Quantum's Q-Day threat to current encryption creates urgency for defense and commercial work.
Biotech Dependence Is Particularly Alarming
- Biotech dependency on China is rising across clinical trials and raw-material production.
- That dependence creates potential leverage and alarming vulnerabilities for medicine supplies.