Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper stated on Thursday at a GZERO Summit panel discussion in London that the war with Iran could last until 2027, and potentially even be handed over to the next U.S. administration in 2029, as he believes the conflict will not end in the foreseeable future. Esper warned that the U.S. over-focus on the Middle East conflict could lead to neglecting China's growing economic, technological, and military power, which he considers America's "greatest adversary." He emphasized that China has undertaken "the largest military buildup in history" and has used the global trade system to strengthen itself, suggesting that the U.S. should shift its focus to cooperating with allies to address the challenge posed by China.