For decades, the United States has been seen as the undisputed leader of the free world. Now, an unlikely new tandem is determined to dethrone the US and knock it from its global perch: China and Russia.
Foreign Policy
According to US intelligence officials, an “unprecedented level” of cooperation between China and Russia could threaten US dominance. The 2 nations have collectively begun to challenge American military dominance in the air and at sea and are believed to be working together on a future cyber-attack.
Officials highlighted Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent mention that China and Russia share views on many geopolitical issues, including tensions on the Korean Peninsula, in Venezuela and the conflict in Syria. They also noted China’s President Xi’s recent referral to Putin as “a friend” and that “our cooperation is based on mutual trust.”
Although China and Russia are not formal allies, it is becoming increasingly clear to US officials that they are, in fact, de facto allies.
“What I consider two of our strongest adversaries are now working together to try to undermine stability in the United States of America,” former CIA director and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said of the strange timing of the pairing between China and Russia. “This is not like dealing with some kind of rogue nation.
“They have great cyber capabilities. They have capabilities in space and on missiles. They both have very strong military capabilities. Their cooperation in order to make use of some of these capabilities against the United States — that is a very dangerous moment for the United States of America,” Panetta added.
His words of their possible pairing couldn’t have been more correct.
Currently, China and Russia share about 2,600 miles in border and major economic synergies. President Xi and President Putin have also engaged in joint military exercises and operate a linked oil-and-gas system. Additionally, both nations have suffered serious economic blows from US sanctions and tariffs and share a deep desire to challenge America’s preeminent global dominance.
The China and Russia “marriage” couldn’t have been more evident than last Friday when a US warship found itself engaged in a challenging encounter with a Russian warship off the coast of China.
“The Russians normally harass our ships when they are operating in waters the Russians consider to be within their sphere of Influence (Black Sea, Barents Sea and the waters off Vladivostok),” said Carl Schuster, a retired US Navy captain and former director of operations at the US Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center.
“It seems as if they’re working in concert with the Chinese. They’re looking at the kinds of things that they can, that they can do in concert with the Chinese to challenge the US. And if it means helping the Chinese out in the Pacific, they will do so,” retired Air Force Col. Cedric Leighton added.
Keep an eye out for China and Russia. Not only do they appear to be working together in some joint military strategy, but they also have the will and the means to hack our technologies and the upcoming 2020 presidential election.
Although China and Russia are not formal allies, it is becoming increasingly clear to US officials that they are, in fact, de facto allies. […] – DJ
Yep. And one can see why they would take advantage of such a golden opportunity. In well over 100 yrs (if ever) America has NOT been in a more vulnerable state…because America has NOT had such a creature as Trump in the White House.
Sadly. the question is – Why wouldn’t our adversaries jump on this (perhaps) once in a lifetime chance to seize whatever socio-economic, political and military advantage they can in pursuit of growing their Power and effecting the world pecking order..!?!