"Korea, Germany, and Vietnam's Rapid and Effective COVID-19 Response... Thanks to Good Leadership"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Ian Bremmer, chairman of the international consulting firm Eurasia Group, mentioned South Korea, Germany, and Vietnam as countries that responded quickly and effectively to the COVID-19 crisis, saying, "They all have good leaders."

In an interview with the Mainichi Shimbun published on the 20th, Bremmer expressed concern about the overall response of countries worldwide, stating, "No country is trying to act in unison to overcome the pandemic; rather, they are fighting among themselves." He pointed out that the world is facing its worst crisis since World War II due to COVID-19 and highlighted the serious problems caused by the so-called 'G0' situation, where there is no clear leading power.

He specifically mentioned that the United States is focusing on blaming China and the World Health Organization (WHO), and although the European Union (EU) held an international conference to support vaccine development, the U.S. refused to participate. He explained, "Unlike the time when the U.S. led the international order, the leaderless era is putting the world in greater danger than ever before."

Bremmer emphasized that "strong science" is needed to overcome the virus and stressed the importance of preventing the weakening of international organizations, especially the WHO. He added, "If there is hope, it lies with advanced technology companies," noting that "companies that have come up with highly creative and insightful solutions to address the pandemic, climate change, and inefficiencies in supply chains are doing very well."

Regarding the upcoming U.S. presidential election in November, Bremmer predicted, "The economic downturn caused by the pandemic is a negative factor for President Donald Trump, who is seeking re-election," but he also noted, "Conversely, if people who fear infection hesitate to vote in person, low voter turnout might work in Trump's favor." He further analyzed that regardless of the outcome, distrust will arise as the country remains polarized, and the election will not be seen as fair or legitimate.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.