- If the United States goes to war with Russia or China, it may have to deal with both enemies at once, U.S. intelligence leaders have warned.
- Russia and China have developed what they call an “open-ended” partnership.
- The two sides also conducted joint military exercises for the first time near Taiwan, U.S. officials said.
In the event of a conflict with either Russia or China, the U.S. military could face both adversaries in a “cooperative” partnership, according to a recent warning from top U.S. intelligence officials.
And the likelihood of the United States going to war with these rivals is much higher than it was even a few years ago, prompting the United States to rethink its thinking and military plans.
At a U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on global threats on Thursday, Director of National Intelligence Avril D. Haines and Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency Lt. Gen. Jeffrey A. Kruse commented on recent cooperation between Russia and China and: He said: He said it showed that the two countries could help each other in a war with the United States.
During the hearing, Haines emphasized the connections between the two countries, from military activities to economics, politics and technology. He added that this was prompting a “total” new plan from the government.
Asked whether this dynamic meant the United States would have to be prepared to fight both adversaries simultaneously if one side started a conflict, Haines said it was possible, but the possibility said it “depends on the scenario.” But Kruse said that’s more likely than it was a few years ago.
“The bottom line is that if we were to come into conflict with one side, we would likely have a second front,” Kruse said.
Kruse also said that from what the Pentagon has seen over the past several years, “The Pentagon has reconsidered its analysis and has further concerns regarding the need for a joint force in an environment where Russia and China can support each other in a conflict.” “I started doing that,” he said.
An “unlimited” partnership An agreement between China and Russia, declared in February 2022, just before Russia invaded Ukraine, also changes the Pentagon’s thinking about what a potential conflict with either rival would look like. I urge you to do so.
“We are in the midst of revising it today,” Kruse said.
Perhaps one of the clearest pieces of evidence, even more than China’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine and helping Russia evade sanctions, is military cooperation on Taiwan, which has long been a potential flashpoint.
Haines told a Senate committee that this was the first time Russia and China had conducted an exercise related to Taiwan, stressing that Russia could become involved if China decides to invade or blockade Taiwan. .
