Emil Michael: US military involvement in Iran is likely by year-end, leveraging actions in Iran and Venezuela for China negotiations, and China’s economic dependence on oil could influence its Taiwan strategy | All-In Podcast

US military actions in Iran and Venezuela aim to strengthen negotiation leverage with China amid rising tensions.

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Add us on Google by Editorial Team Mar. 25, 2026

Key takeaways

• There is a significant chance of US military involvement in Iran by the end of the year.
• The US aims to disarm the Iranian regime to prevent it from supplying terrorist groups.
• The US is prioritizing a grand bargain with China over prolonged conflict.
• Actions in Iran and Venezuela are meant to create leverage for US negotiations with China.
• A deal with China could be a major achievement for the current administration.
• Recent geopolitical actions have given the US leverage in discussions with China.
• China may consider invading Taiwan to manage domestic issues and boost its economy.
• China’s economy is heavily dependent on imported oil, particularly from Iran and Venezuela.
• US military experience has improved operational effectiveness in conflicts.
• Technological advancements and changes in rules of engagement have impacted military operations.
• The US is strategically positioning itself in international relations, especially with China.
• Understanding geopolitical tensions is crucial for grasping US foreign policy directions.
• The evolving landscape of warfare includes the integration of artificial intelligence.
• The US military’s strategic objectives focus on counter-terrorism.
• Economic conditions in China could influence its geopolitical actions.

Guest intro

Emil Michael serves as Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering and Chief Technology Officer for the Department of War. Previously, he was Chief Business Officer at Uber, where he helped launch its self-driving car division, and served as a White House Fellow and Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, managing key projects in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan.

US military involvement in Iran

• There is a significant chance that US forces will have boots on the ground in Iran by the end of the year.

  — Emil Michael

• The operation aims to disarm the Iranian regime to prevent it from supplying terrorist groups.

• It’s aimed at essentially disarming the regime or the country from in such a way that they can’t supply Hezbollah, Hamas, Muslim Brotherhood.

  — Emil Michael

• Understanding the current geopolitical situation is crucial for grasping the implications of US military involvement in Iran.
• The strategic objectives focus on counter-terrorism and preventing the spread of weapons to terrorist organizations.
• The geopolitical climate requires a nuanced understanding of US foreign policy.
• The US military’s actions in Iran are part of a broader strategy involving leverage in international relations.
• The potential for US military engagement in Iran reflects broader geopolitical tensions.

US-China relations and strategic negotiations

• The US is likely to prioritize finding a grand bargain with China over engaging in a prolonged conflict.

  — David Friedberg

• The US is using actions in Iran and Venezuela to create leverage for negotiations with China.

• Creating leverage by having significant influence or damage or destruction to those supply chains for China gives the United States footing to be able to negotiate a better deal for America.

  — David Friedberg

• A deal with China could be a significant achievement for the current administration, especially ahead of the midterms.

• I think it could be a win-win and I think that a deal with China could be the crowning achievement of this administration particularly going into the midterms.

  — Emil Michael

• Recent geopolitical actions have created leverage for the US in discussions with China.

• I think all of this centers around that geopolitical discussion… we have created enormous leverage as Friedberg said with China.

  — Emil Michael

• Understanding the geopolitical tensions between the US and China is crucial for grasping US foreign policy directions.
• The strategic importance of negotiations with China highlights the US’s focus on international relations.
• The US is strategically positioning itself in international relations, especially with China.
• The potential political implications of US-China negotiations are significant.
• The US foreign policy direction is influenced by broader geopolitical negotiations.

China’s potential actions and economic dependencies

• China may consider invading Taiwan as a strategy to manage domestic chaos and stimulate its economy.

  — Emil Michael

• China’s economy is significantly dependent on imported oil, which is critical for various sectors.

• They are enormously dependent on imported oil so about 20% of their economy… about a fifth of it comes exclusively from Iran and Venezuela.

  — Emil Michael

• Understanding the current economic and political climate in China is crucial for grasping its strategic decisions.
• The vulnerabilities in China’s economy could influence its geopolitical actions.
• China’s potential invasion of Taiwan reflects broader geopolitical tensions.
• Economic conditions in China could influence its strategic decisions.
• The geopolitical climate requires a nuanced understanding of China’s economic structure.
• The strategic importance of Taiwan for China highlights broader geopolitical tensions.
• China’s reliance on foreign oil sources is a significant factor in its economic structure.
• The potential for geopolitical actions by China is influenced by its economic dependencies.

Evolution of US military strategy and effectiveness

• The US military’s experience and training have significantly improved operational effectiveness in conflicts.

  — Emil Michael

• The global war on terror was a disaster in so many respects but the people now who are fighting that are generals now and so they’ve learned a lot of lessons.

  — Emil Michael

• Understanding the evolution of military leadership and strategy in the US is crucial for grasping current military strategies.
• The importance of military experience in shaping successful operations is highlighted.
• The US military’s strategic objectives focus on counter-terrorism.
• The evolving landscape of warfare includes the integration of artificial intelligence.
• The US military’s actions are part of a broader strategy involving leverage in international relations.
• The potential for US military engagement reflects broader geopolitical tensions.
• The strategic positioning of the US in international relations is significant.
• The evolution of military strategy highlights the importance of experience and training.
• The US military’s operational effectiveness is influenced by its experience and training.

Impact of technology and rules of engagement on military operations

• The evolution of technology and changes in rules of engagement have significantly impacted military operations.

  — Emil Michael

• I’d say no it wasn’t only a technology maturation from five years ago it’s the rules of engagement… the rules of engagement were relaxed to be who writes those.

  — Emil Michael

• Understanding the historical context of military rules of engagement and technological advancements in warfare is crucial.
• The connection between technological advancements and strategic changes in military operations is highlighted.
• The importance of both technological advancements and changes in rules of engagement is significant.
• The evolving landscape of warfare includes the integration of artificial intelligence.
• The US military’s strategic objectives focus on counter-terrorism.
• The potential for US military engagement reflects broader geopolitical tensions.
• The strategic positioning of the US in international relations is significant.
• The impact of technology on military operations is influenced by strategic changes.
• The evolution of military strategy highlights the importance of technological advancements.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.