From Defense.gov:
Russia has “chosen to be an adversary and poses a long-term existential threat” to the United States and U.S. allies and partners in Europe, he told lawmakers. Russia wants to “rewrite” the agreed rules of the international order, he said.
“To counter Russia, Eucom, working with allies and partners, is deterring Russia now and preparing to fight and win if necessary,” he said.
Russia is eager to exert unquestioned influence over its neighboring states to create a buffer zone, the general said, adding, “Russia is extending its course of influence yet further afield to try to reestablish a leading role on the world stage.”
Despite what he described as Russian pronouncements to the contrary, Russia has done little to counter ISIL in Syria, Breedlove said.
Instead, Moscow has done a “great deal to bolster the Assad regime and its allies,” he remarked. Russian involvement in Syria has “wildly exacerbated the problem,” changing the dynamic in the air and on the ground, he said.
“Russia and the Assad regime are deliberately weaponizing migration from Syria in an attempt to overwhelm European structures and break European resolve,” he said.
To brake NATO actually.
ReplyDeleteCan you blame Russia? 150 years ago they were on the verge of finally beating their 500 year long enemy, the Ottoman Empire. Istanbul was about to be returned to its rightful owners, the holy land freed of its Muslim conquerers. Without the Ottoman empire, all of Asia (most of it lying on the Russian border) was open to Russia. The very last thing the British wanted in Asia was Russian competition, troops, navy and army were rushed to support Turkey, for 200 years acknowledged by all European powers as the sick man in Europe.
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