Russia poses a threat to the United States and its allies in Europe.

This was stated by Tod Walters, Commander of the European Command of the US Armed Forces and Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces of NATO in Europe, at the symposium of the Air Force Association.

“Russia continues to pose a threat to the existence of the United States and our European allies,” the American military said.

According to him, the modern world lives in an "era of rivalry between global powers."

“To win in this era means to make sure that their rivalry does not develop into a global war.

Despite widespread condemnation from the international community and ongoing economic sanctions, Russia is committing malicious acts aimed at destabilizing the entire world, and in many cases they take place near its borders (in Europe), "Walters said.

He added that Russia allegedly seeks to keep the neighboring countries that were previously part of the USSR in its sphere of influence by force.

The military leader also said that, as part of the rivalry of global powers, the Russian Federation uses unconventional means, for example, such as private military companies (PMCs), to intimidate, weaken and separate the US allies and partners.

In addition, Walters believes that Moscow and Beijing are allegedly engaged in the militarization of the Arctic and "seek to create economic footholds in order to be able to influence governance" in the region.

"The activities of Russia and China underscore the importance of uniting the European Command with our allies and partners to maintain reliable Arctic containment and ensure the openness of vital sea routes by protecting the Greenland-Iceland-UK border," the military leader stressed.

"Conversations about" terrible "Russia"

As Nikita Danyuk, deputy director of the RUDN Institute for Strategic Studies and Forecasts, a member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, noted in an interview with RT, the topic of the notorious "Russian threat" is deliberately promoted by the Pentagon, since this is a "convenient justification" for increasing the defense budget of the United States and NATO countries, expanding military infrastructure and strengthening the military contingent.

“The second important point: in this way, the alliance gives itself more importance.

Indeed, under Trump, the bloc's authority was shaken.

Now Russia is again the main adversary and allegedly challenges both the United States and its allies, ”says Danyuk.

In turn, Corresponding Member of the Academy of Military Sciences Sergei Sudakov, in a conversation with RT, noted that the United States "does not intend to put up with the fact that countries appear that can influence the global geopolitical situation."

According to him, the leadership of the United States is trying with all its might to emphasize that destabilization in the world is associated exclusively with the activities of the Russian Federation.

“However, Russia, on the contrary, seeks to maintain the global security system.

While the PMCs mentioned by Walters are precisely an American instrument of influence ... Moreover, in a pandemic, it is completely illogical to talk about the actions of PMCs and the violation of other people's interests.

Communication between the countries has not yet been fully restored, ”the expert explained.

  • Flags of Russia and USA

  • AFP

  • © Mladen ANTONOV

In his opinion, "Washington is annoying" that Moscow can conduct an equal dialogue with such European powers as Germany, France, Italy or Spain.

“The Americans believe that Russia is separating the European allies of the United States by the very fact of interaction with them,” Sudakov said.

He also recalled that unsubstantiated accusations by the United States against the Russian Federation have already become a tradition.

"Apart from far-fetched gossip and talk about a" terrible Russia ", Washington cannot present anything to the international community," the analyst stated.

Voice of the Pentagon

It is worth noting that the current accusations of the American general are far from the first such attacks against Russia by the officials of the US Department of Defense.

So, last week, a Pentagon spokesman said during a regular briefing that the United States intends to work with the Russian side "to advance its own interests, while at the same time holding it accountable for its reckless and aggressive actions."

“I consider it extremely clear that Russia poses a threat to all NATO allies, including the United States.

Russia reduces the level of transparency and predictability, ”said an official of the department.

  • Joint base "Lewis - McCord" in the USA

  • © US Air Force

In early February, US Department of Defense spokesman John Kirby called Russia a threat to the United States "on many fronts."

According to him, the Pentagon shares the fears of the representatives of the command about the possibility of a nuclear conflict with Moscow, but does not want "escalation to a conflict of this magnitude."

Earlier, the head of US Strategic Command, Admiral Charles Richard, in his article for the February issue of the official publication of the United States Naval Institute, also admitted the possibility of a direct nuclear conflict with Russia or China.

According to the military, Washington must "actively compete in order to contain the aggression" of Moscow and Beijing.

“We must actively counter their aggression.

Making concessions to their endeavors is fraught with the risk of reinforcing the belief that the United States is unwilling or unable to retaliate, which will give them even more self-confidence, ”says Richard.

He also called the Russian Federation and the PRC "rivals", the strategic potential of which "continues to grow, which makes us think seriously."

In addition, Kathleen Hicks, now the US Deputy Secretary of Defense, announced on February 2 that the ongoing military modernization of the armed forces in the Republic of China and "destructive Russia" are special challenges for the US military.

She also noted the importance of effectively "containing" Moscow and Beijing.

According to Hicks, it is not in the interest of the United States and its allies to see these states build up their nuclear arsenals.

"No innovations are observed"

According to analysts, now the Pentagon and the new American administration as a whole continue to develop the trend that was formed during the Obama era - "the introduction of the presumption of Russia's guilt."

“Under Biden, it was the Pentagon who took on the role of the main generator of fears about the Russian threat, which it reinforces with fakes.

If the State Department, for example, had dealt with this so closely, it would have been perceived less fatally than when we hear such statements from the military leaders, ”explained Sudakov.

With reports of a "Russian threat", the Pentagon wants to "intimidate US allies, while broadcasting the idea that the concept of sovereignty of national borders and interests leads to decline and ultimately to destruction," said Sudakov.

“The US leadership needs to blame Russia for everything, and in such a way as to complicate relations between Europe and Russia as much as possible.

The American side wants Europe to turn towards the United States, ”the expert said.

  • US military

  • Reuters

  • © Jonathan Drake

From his point of view, "now both the Department of Defense and the American leadership in general are acting in such a way as to strengthen transatlantic cooperation."

“All the American special services, the Pentagon and the State Department under Biden are working very harmoniously - they have returned to the mechanism of working with partners, which was built under Obama.

So far, no fundamental innovations have been observed.

In the dialogue with the allies, the main goal is to intimidate them with Russia, "Sudakov believes.

Nikita Danyuk is of the same opinion.

"In the current situation, when many countries do not understand why it is necessary to spend a lot of money on NATO, if in fact Russia does not pose any threat, the Pentagon reminds them that they are allegedly mistaken," the analyst says.

Sergei Sudakov, in turn, believes that the United States intends to use the loyalty of its allies solely for its own benefit.

“Washington believes that the more intensively it lobbies the topic of the 'Russian threat', the more likely it is that these states will send 2% of their GDP to NATO and buy weapons from the United States,” Sudakov explained.

However, in his opinion, many European countries no longer take seriously "empty statements by Washington about the Russian threat."

“At some point, European countries simply stopped being afraid.

In addition, during the pandemic, they realized that in the end, everyone will be for himself, ”said Sudakov.

In the American picture of the world, Russia cannot have national interests, says Nikita Danyuk.

“And in this sense, any activity of the Russian Federation in the field of geopolitics is perceived as a threat.

In this context, the rhetoric of the United States will become even more harsh over time, but at the same time Washington is aware that it would not want a direct confrontation with Moscow in reality, ”the analyst concluded.