"Anti-Russian vector": why Biden announced "critical powers" for the United States in the new defense budget

US President Joe Biden said that the country's defense budget for the 2022 fiscal year in the amount of about $ 770 billion signed by him gives Washington "critical powers."

"The (National Defense Appropriations Act

) provides vital benefits and expands access to justice for military personnel and their families, and includes critical powers to ensure our country's national defense," Biden said in a statement. published on the White House website.

According to the American leader, this law "authorizes appropriations" mainly for the US Department of Defense, the Department of Energy's national security programs and for the State Department.

However, Biden stressed that a number of provisions of the law "raise doubts about their compliance with the constitution and questions regarding their interpretation."

So, according to the US President, the paragraphs of the document relating to Afghanistan and Iraq, in fact, will require the US authorities to submit reports to Congress, which will contain highly classified information, including information about critical sources of intelligence and military operational plans.

In addition, Biden criticized the provisions of the defense budget regarding the prison at the US naval base Guantanamo, which is located in Cuba.

In particular, the head of the White House is not satisfied that one of the sections of the law prohibits the use of funds to transfer prisoners from this facility to the United States if "certain conditions" are not met.

It is worth noting that in the new defense budget, many provisions relate to Russia in one way or another; the document mentions the country about 70 times.

In particular, we are talking about the alleged "aggression" by the Russian Federation.

"The United States must further strengthen the military positions of the United States and its allies in Europe in order to create and maintain a reliable mechanism to contain Russian aggression and long-term strategic competition with the Russian government, including active support for the European Containment Initiative and other areas for investment," in the document.

In this context, we are talking about the further use of the rotational deployment of military personnel, large-scale exercises "in the European theater", more effective deployment of troops "on the front line to strengthen deterrence and reduce costs", investment in general military, cyberspace, information and anti-aircraft efforts "to counter modern military challenges ".

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“Aggression against NATO allies and US partners is unacceptable.

Russia's readiness for far-reaching and risky actions that contradict the international order poses a serious threat to US national security interests and must be met with constant activity, investment in reasonable deterrents and vigilance, ”the new defense budget underlines.

The document also provides for the extension of the restriction on cooperation between the Pentagon and the Russian Ministry of Defense, which has been in force for several years, and a ban on the use of budget funds to carry out any actions within which the sovereignty of the Russian Federation over Crimea is recognized.

It is planned to allocate $ 300 million for military assistance to Ukraine. In addition, cooperation in the field of security with the Baltic countries will be increased.

Unfulfilled hopes

Recall that earlier American congressmen proposed to include a number of anti-Russian provisions in the US defense budget for the 2022 fiscal year, however, due to disagreements between Republicans and Democrats, these points were not included in the final version of the document.

In particular, it was about the fact that the head of the White House must submit to Congress an opinion, including a detailed justification, on whether the approved list of Russian politicians, businessmen and media representatives “meets the criteria for imposing sanctions in accordance with section 1263 b) of the Global Law Magnitsky ".

The list included 35 Russians, including the current press secretary of the President of Russia, the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, the Chairman of the Russian CEC, the Minister of Health, the directors of the Russian Guard and the FSB, the Chairman of the Investigative Committee and the Mayor of Moscow.

As explained by the congressman and member of the US Helsinki Commission Paul Massaro, those who were allegedly involved in "human rights violations" were included in this list.

Later, Massaro spoke about other initiatives of American lawmakers against Russia, which they wanted to include in the new US defense budget. In particular, the congressmen proposed to impose sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, including restrictions against any organization responsible for planning, construction or operation of the pipeline and "any other corporate official or major shareholder with a controlling stake in the organization." Restrictions include a ban on US visas and entry into the United States, blocking of property and companies in the United States, and other measures.

The congressmen also proposed adding to the new defense budget a ban on the purchase and sale of Russian government debt by American citizens.

It was about the fact that the head of the White House "must submit provisions prohibiting persons in the United States from buying or selling Russian sovereign debt."

"Aimed at containing Russia"

However, experts note that even without sanctions against Nord Stream 2, 35 well-known Russians and the Russian national debt in the final version of the new US defense budget “anti-Russian provisions are more than enough.”

“These initiatives are aimed at containing Russia, which is completely unfairly declared by Washington as a revanchist country and allegedly challenging the world liberal order.

In the United States, it has already become a dogma that the actions of the American authorities in the field of security and defense are dictated by the need to allegedly protect themselves from the Russian Federation or to suppress its "aggressive actions," said Konstantin Blokhin, a leading researcher at the Center for Security Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, in a conversation with RT.

The analyst also drew attention to the fact that due to "permanent accusations" against Russia, it is easier for the United States to justify an increase in the defense budget, which "only grows over the years."

"This inflation of the budget, as well as expansionist actions, are explained in the White House and the Pentagon primarily by the threat from Russia," Blokhin said.

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Yuri Rogulev, director of the Franklin Roosevelt Foundation for the Study of the United States at Moscow State University, adheres to a similar position.

“The United States needs an adversary, albeit an artificial one.

If you do not indicate it in the military budget, then it is not clear why the costs are growing.

The United States is increasing them, and they need to explain this, including by invented "intrigues" on the part of the Russian Federation, "the expert said in an interview with RT.

According to Blokhin, the United States believes that by increasing spending on defense, it will be able to catch up with its competitors - Russia and China, as well as regain its position as a world leader.

"In this regard, the defense budget is now directed more towards deepening the military advantages of the United States, while in past years the emphasis was often placed on foreign military companies," Blokhin said.

Experts also commented on the intention of the United States to allocate $ 300 million to Ukraine in military aid.

According to Blokhin, this money "is only enough for a few villas and cars for Ukrainian officials."

“This small amount will be immediately used by corrupt officials, for them it is a penny.

Kiev is waiting for billions in tranches, but receives only such handouts from Washington, ”the analyst said.

Rogulev, in turn, noted that the provision of military assistance to Kiev, including in the form of weapons, and the build-up of military cooperation with the Baltic states is a "profitable story" for the United States.

“It is profitable for the United States to supply Ukraine and the Baltic countries with its weapons and equipment, which will then need to be serviced and provided with ammunition, which will be purchased from the United States for a lot of money.

That is, it is such a constant cash river of income for American corporations, ”the expert stated.

As for the mention of Crimea in the defense budget and the restrictions associated with the peninsula, Blokhin noted that the United States has a "fad on this topic."

“For them, this seems to be the main lever of influence on Russia, one of the few that they can afford.

Therefore, sanctions and non-recognition of Crimea are key elements of their strategy, ”the analyst said.

Rogulyov, in turn, commented on Biden's criticism of some of the provisions of the defense budget regarding Afghanistan, Iraq and the Guantanamo prison.

The fact that the head of the White House signed the document, having a number of claims against it, Rogulyov explained by the internal political specifics of the United States.

“The defense budget is a compromise and cannot fully match the views of both Democrats and Republicans.

Therefore, it is not surprising that Biden criticizes some of his provisions.

The Democrats managed to ensure that the document did not include sanctions against Nord Stream 2, the Russian national debt and restrictions on 35 well-known Russians.

But some provisions still do not suit them.

And Biden spoke about this, ”the expert noted.

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• © Tom Brenner

As Blokhin summed up, despite the fact that the final US defense budget for the 2022 fiscal year does not contain sanctions against Nord Stream 2 and other restrictions against the Russian Federation that the congressmen proposed to include, "the anti-Russian vector is still clearly expressed in it."

“Russia is mentioned there at least 70 times, and, as a rule, in a negative context.

And the "critical powers" that Biden is talking about are, first of all, measures against Russia, "the analyst concluded.