The Cross Roads

  Toward an Ethical World Order: Reining in Personal‑Wealth‑Driven Great‑Power Bargaining – Buchanan (2026) Executive summary Informal great‑power signalling and deniable diplomacy, illustrated by Fiona Hill’s 2019 description of a Russian “very strange swap” linking Venezuela and Ukraine, demonstrate how state actors can attempt reciprocal bargains through media, proxies and back channels. Resurfacing of that testimony in 2026 amid continued Russian aggression in Ukraine and U.S. actions in Latin America underscores risks that opaque diplomacy coupled with private wealth incentives corrodes public accountability and global stability. This short policy paper recommends domestic and international reforms to reduce personal‑wealth‑driven foreign influence, strengthen oversight and restore ethical norms in interstate conduct. Background and evidence synthesis Fiona Hill testimony: On 21 November 2019, former White House Russia expert Fiona Hill testified to the Hou...