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Nathaniel Fick gained prominence through his appearance in the bestselling book Generation Kill by Rolling Stone journalist Evan Wright, which detailed his experiences in the Iraq war. Fick later wrote his own award-winning memoir, One Bullet Away: The Making of a Marine Officer, chronicling his service in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Nowadays, at the age of 46, Fick has returned to the public stage with a new mission. He was quietly appointed as the first-ever cyber space ambassador for the White House last year. In this role, Fick, who previously worked in cyber security after leaving the Marines, champions America’s digital interests in the face of countries like China. His goal is to convince US allies to avoid Chinese technology, such as Huawei hardware, and prevent poorer countries from falling under Beijing’s digital influence.
“We are working globally to deploy trusted [western] infrastructure wherever possible,” he recently told me in Washington. In the past, the US and its allies enjoyed a seemingly unbeatable advantage in the telecoms sector. However, Fick believes this advantage has been lost due to a combination of corporate distractions, government complacency, intellectual property theft by China, and subsidies from the Chinese government.
While some may dismiss Fick’s rhetoric, with officials at Huawei arguing that American politicians are misguided in their concerns about the Chinese telecoms company, his career transition reflects broader geopolitical shifts. It highlights the extent to which US officials are now focused on the perceived threat posed by China. “It is the most bipartisan issue today,” according to Dina Powell, a former National Security Council official.
Furthermore, Fick’s new role sheds light on Washington’s belated realization of the consequences of neglecting Africa in recent years, while China has increased its diplomatic efforts and investments in the region. The UK Foreign Office reveals a telling statistic: China has become the largest bilateral creditor in over half of the developing countries, lending more than all the western creditors in the so-called Paris Club combined.
Another crucial lesson is the importance of western diplomats grasping the implications of the internet potentially becoming a battleground for geopolitical conflicts. Just as American diplomats during the Cold War understood the language of nuclear proliferation, they now acknowledge the need to learn the language of digital and artificial intelligence in order to navigate tensions between the US and China. This explains Fick’s new role and the state department’s decision to assign digital officers to all embassies.
Recovering lost ground will not be easy. China has dedicated significant resources to persuade poor countries to adopt its inexpensive technology through initiatives like the Belt and Road program. The US has yet to offer similar enticements. Moreover, Washington’s free-market ethos makes it cautious about promoting national champions, a strategy China employs. Fick amusingly remarks that he spends as much time advocating for Nokia and Samsung as he does for Silicon Valley, which complicates his mission.
Fick has achieved some successes. Last year, US diplomats prevented a former Huawei employee from Russia from becoming the head of the International Telecommunication Union, a UN agency facilitating international cooperation. He is currently seeking support for western candidates in other global internet organizations as well.
As Fick endeavors to dissuade poorer nations from embracing cheap Chinese technology, he believes that “the wind is starting to shift” in favor of the US, as these nations become more aware of the pitfalls of debt trap diplomacy. However, the reality is that while African, Latin American, and Asian countries may grow more apprehensive about China’s generosity, they also maintain a sense of distrust towards the West due to centuries of exploitation. As Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, the Africa program director at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, points out, there exists a trust deficit with both China and America.
This encapsulates the complexities of 21st-century geopolitics. Though Fick’s current “war” may not possess the dramatic plotlines of his time as a marine, it is equally significant in combating present challenges.
Follow Gillian on Twitter @gilliantett and email her at [email protected]
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