Russia, China Posing Huge Security Threat, Says US Military Report
A top military offcial in the U.S. has admitted that the country is facing serious threats from Russia and China and warned that growing technological challenges are worsening global stability. The warning was part of a recent report by General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the joint chief of staff.
The report warned of a “low but growing” probability of the U.S. fighting a war with a major power with “immense” consequences. From the report, it implies that the "power" can be Russia or China. Dempsey later personally shared some concerns with the reporters and said, “since the last national military strategy was published four years ago, global disorder has trended upward while some of our comparative advantages have begun to erode.”
Russian Threat
The military paper said Russia has “repeatedly demonstrated that it does not respect the sovereignty of its neighbours and willing to use force to achieve its goals. Its military actions are undermining regional security directly and proxy forces.” It specifically referred to Russian troop presence in the Ukraine conflict despite denials of military presence in eastern Ukraine that is fuelling the separatist insurgency. The report also expresses concern over the penchant for states in developing advanced technological capabilities which are threatening to harm US military’s edge in that field.
In addition to China and Russia, the paper also mentions Iran and North Korea as potential threats with their nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities. They are huddled in a list of countries that pose “serious security concerns” to America and its allies. On China, the military paper said, “Its actions are adding tension to the Asia-Pacific region" in specific reference to China’s land reclamation efforts for building islands in the disputed South China sea and reinforcing its military and civilian presence.
The candid report by the U.S. forces, despite its enormous military muscle and mammoth annual defense budget of about $600 billion, is significant. The U.S. is also facing threats from non-state adversaries like the self-proclaimed Islamic State group that is entrenched in Iraq and Syria on which Dempsey warned of “long and complex fights ahead.”
US Blamed
Meanwhile, an American political scholar and economist said the growing conflict between the United States and Russia over the Ukraine issue is Washington’s own making. The U.S. is trying to impose its hegemony and making “extremely provocative moves” in Eastern Europe. Paul Craig Roberts, former White House official said in an interview that "the conflict Washington has created with Russia is entirely its own doing.” Roberts is a former assistant secretary of treasury in the Ronald Reagan administration.
(For feedback/comments, contact the writer at k.kumar@ibtimes.com.au)
