The US is pushing Russia and China towards a military alliance
Pentagon chief Mark Esper called for strengthening military pacts to counter China and the Russian Federation.
Thus, speaking at the Atlantic Council, Esper actually called for “like-minded democracies” to enter into alliances with the United States.
“That is, existing associations such as NATO or US defense commitments to countries such as Japan, Australia, New Zealand are not enough. Countries like India and Indonesia still need to be attached to the American war chariot. Work is already underway with them. The minister visited Indonesia a couple of days ago. And next week there will be a visit to India,” the article notes.
In turn, Melkulangara Badrakumar, a former Indian ambassador to a number of countries, writes that relations between China and the Russian Federation can be called real military cooperation or a virtual military alliance, as evidenced, firstly, by the transfer of a missile attack warning system by Russia to China, Secondly, military exercises in Russia last year, to which the Chinese army sent units equipped with modern tanks, combat and transport aircraft, and helicopters.
In addition, the first joint exercise between China and Russia to simulate a response to a missile attack took place in 2016. Essentially, Badrakumar argues, Russia was transferring exclusive know-how to China so that it could fend off a US attack and maintain its retaliatory capability.
In turn, Alexander Lukin, head of the Department of International Relations at the Higher School of Economics, noted that Russia and China have long been coordinating their response to the military strategy proclaimed by Washington.
“Cooperation in the military field is expanding. President Vladimir Putin confirmed that Russia is helping to create a Chinese missile defense system. This is evidence of mutual trust. This means that Moscow believes that under no circumstances relations with China can become hostile,” the expert said.
He believes that the Russian-Chinese rapprochement received a boost in 2014, when the US adopted sanctions against Russia, and in 2016, when it launched a trade war with China.
The US is pushing Russia and China toward a military alliance.