Russia & China are ‘challenging the world order’ – US Defense Sec

Carter
delivered this surprisingly direct and candid program statement,
riddled with accusations against Russia for what he called “nuclear saber-rattling” and “violating sovereignty” of US allies, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, AP reported on Saturday.

The US official once again put Russia and China in the same
league as Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) when listing America’s
top-ranked bogeymen.

“Terror elements like ISIL, of course,
stand entirely opposed to our values. But other challenges are more
complicated, and given their size and capabilities, potentially more
damaging,” he said.

“Some actors appear intent on eroding
these principles and undercutting the international order that helps
enforce them… Of course, neither Russia nor China can overturn that
order. But both present different challenges for it,” Carter said.

According to AP, Russia and China are challenging “American preeminence” and Washington’s so-called “stewardship of the world order” as they reassert themselves on the international arena as serious military powers.

READ MORE: Moscow doubles down on Washington (OP-ED)

According to Carter, their “challenging activities” can be seen at every possible level, be it at sea, in the air, in space – or even in cyberspace. “Most disturbing” for the US official, however, is whathe called “Moscow’s nuclear saber-rattling,” which in his view “raises
questions about Russian leaders’ commitment to strategic stability,
their respect for norms against the use of nuclear weapons, and whether
they respect the profound caution nuclear-age leaders showed with regard
to the brandishing of nuclear weapons.”

It is not quite clear exactly what “brandishing”
Carter was referring to, but there was, indeed, a recent Russian
reaction to new US plans to deploy advanced nuclear bombs at the Büchel
Air Base in Germany. The deployment
is the latest move planned as part of a joint NATO nuclear sharing
program, which involves non-nuclear NATO states hosting more than 200 US
nuclear warheads.

The
Kremlin said that new US nukes deployed in Europe would destroy the
strategic balance in the region and force Russia to take similar
measures.

“This is another step and, unfortunately, it is a
very serious step, towards an increase in tensions on the European
continent… It may lead to the destruction of the strategic balance in
Europe. Therefore it would definitely cause Russia to take corresponding
counter-steps and counter-measures in order to restore the strategic
balance and parity,” President Vladimir Putin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters in September.

Interestingly,
from Carter’s perspective, it is Moscow that is forcing Washington to –
unwillingly! – enter a new Cold War-era style arms race.

“We
do not seek a cold, let alone a hot, war with Russia. We do not seek to
make Russia an enemy. But make no mistake; the United States will defend
our interests, our allies, the principled international order, and the
positive future it affords us all,” Carter said.

There
is a state that is stirring conflicts in Europe and the Middle East,
and guess what, its name is Russia – appears to be the message Carter
was determined to impress upon his audience.

“In Europe,
Russia has been violating sovereignty in Ukraine and Georgia and
actively trying to intimidate the Baltic states. Meanwhile, in Syria,
Russia is throwing gasoline on an already dangerous fire, prolonging a
civil war that fuels the very extremism Russia claims to oppose,” was the US Defense Secretary’s assessment of the role Russia has played in the two world regions.

READ MORE: 36,000 troops, 200 aircraft & 60 vessels: NATO launches biggest war games in 13 years

In
particular, Russia and China have been accused of not following the
principles of the global order: peaceful resolution of disputes, freedom
from coercion, respect for state sovereignty, and freedom of
navigation.

To confront the threat, the US military industrial complex is heavily investing in cutting-edge warfare technologies “that are most relevant to Russia’s provocations.” Such as? “New
unmanned systems, a new long-range bomber… innovation in technologies
like the electromagnetic railgun, lasers and new systems for electronic
warfare, space and cyberspace, including a few surprising ones I really
can’t describe here,” Carter said – which, of course, by no means could be interpreted as saber-rattling or provoking an arms race.

Moreover, in response to Russian “aggression,”
the US is now modernizing its entire nuclear arsenal, including its
bombers and submarines, long-range missiles – not to mention the nukes
themselves.

Could there be any doubt the world order is safe under such stewardship?

https://www.rt.com/usa/321194-carter-russia-threat-world-order/