Transcript: Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," May 17, 2026
Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates discussed the current global security landscape on 'Face the Nation.' He emphasized the dangers posed by nuclear-armed adversaries, particularly China and Russia, and highlighted the need for the U.S. to maintain its military and technological edge. Gates also commented on the recent U.S.-China summit, suggesting that the primary goal was to stabilize the relationship and avoid escalating economic tensions.
- ▪Gates described the current period as one of the most dangerous in modern American history due to nuclear threats from China and Russia.
- ▪He noted that China is approaching U.S. power levels but is not yet equal, particularly in military capabilities.
- ▪The recent U.S.-China summit aimed to keep the relationship stable and avoid further economic conflict.
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Face The Nation Transcripts Transcript: Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," May 17, 2026 .chip { background-image: url('/fly/bundles/cbsnewscore/images/chip-bgd/chip-bgd-face-the-nation.jpg'); } May 17, 2026 / 10:03 AM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google The following is the transcript of the interview with former Defense Secretary Robert Gates that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on May 17, 2026.MARGARET BRENNAN: Mr. Secretary, if you're ready, we'll dive right in.FORMER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ROBERT GATES: Absolutely.MARGARET BRENNAN: So it's great to be back here with you, but there's a lot going on in the world.
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