The Washington Post reported on Saturday that the US and its allies are preparing for a new world where they no longer try to cooperate and coexist with Russia. Instead, they are planning a long-term strategy that aims to “isolate and weaken” the country.
While the West has been hostile to Moscow for many years, Europe has enjoyed a robust trade relationship with Russia and is incredibly reliant on Russian energy imports. But the EU is looking to change that and has already announced a ban on Russian coal.
The EU is also working on plans to ban Russian oil and eventually gas with the goal of ending all Russian energy imports by 2030. The plan is meant to hurt Russia, but Europe’s economy will also take a significant hit. So far, Western sanctions have exemptions for Russian energy deals, but that would change if Europe stops its imports, and the sanctions campaign could escalate further.
When it comes to the military aspect, NATO is looking to seriously bolster its forces near Russia. Over the past few months, the US has sent tens of thousands of additional troops to Europe, many of which were deployed to Eastern European countries that border Ukraine and Russia.
US military leaders are looking to make the increased troop presence permanent. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley has floated the idea of the US’s Eastern European allies building new permanent bases that US troops can rotate through.
President Biden signaled that the US goal for Russia is regime change when he said Russian President Vladimir Putin “cannot remain in power.” A senior European diplomat told the Post that while “we don’t say regime change … it is difficult to imagine a stable scenario with Putin acting the way he is.”
The new focus on hurting Russia will be incorporated in new strategy documents. The Biden administration’s National Security Strategy could be released soon and is expected to be altered from its initially planned focus on China and domestic issues. The Pentagon recently briefed Congress on its new National Defense Strategy to Congress, which identified China as the top priority but also named the “Russia challenge” as another area of focus.
NATO will unveil its new Strategic Concept document in June. The previous one was written in 2010 and called for a “true strategic partnership” with Russia, but comments from NATO officials make it clear that will no longer be a goal. “Meaningful dialogue, as we strived for before, is not an option for Russia,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said earlier this month.
A significant aspect of the West’s campaign against Russia is pouring weapons into Ukraine that are meant to kill Russian troops. The US has pledged a whopping $2.6 billion in new military assistance since Russia invaded on February 24, and more so-called lethal aid is expected to flow.
Biden administration officials have said they expect a “protracted” conflict in Ukraine that could potentially last for years. They have said they are working to stop the conflict, but the US has abandoned diplomacy with Russia as a potential avenue to end the fighting. Secretary of State Antony Blinken hasn’t spoken with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov since February 15.
It won’t happen. Russia had 8 years to plan for what is now happening domestically and globally, while the US and their Nazi proxies were enjoying themselves on a killing spree on Russian ukranians (14.000 and counting).
Russia, China and the multipolar world has this covered US has hastened their demise.
US, Allies Planning Long-Term Strategy To ‘Isolate and Weaken’ US, Allies
I guess these people don’t know that Putin is largely regarded by the Russian People and the Govt in General as being soft regarding relations with the west and the Ukraine Operation. If he was removed from power, the next guy would be very hardcore.
It is not just Russians. Robert’s analysis of Russia’s actions before and since 2014 point to Russia’s failire to address dangers from Ukraine much earlier. Of course, armchair generals do not understand that Russia had to reach a dead end politically, and be orepared for military conflict.
Escalation ladder had to be thought through, and ready before challenging West.
Yes, Europe is unified. But this unity ince forged, can be repurposed.
It might be added that there’s also a question whether “Europe is unified”? or just the phoney leaders?
Yep. Our brains (sarcasm here) in Washington need to be careful what they wish for.
I think it is more astute to say: Our Asses in Washington….
I thought the adults were in charge now. Apparently not.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Easy for them to talk about this war sh*t over drinks and cigars in a comfy atmosphere in D.C.
I have no wish to sound like a sycophant but that is the way I enjoy talking about peace stuff!
“They have said they are working to stop the conflict, but the US has abandoned diplomacy with Russia as a potential avenue to end the fighting.”
Abandoned would imply that they were engaged in diplomacy at some point. Our top diplomat just said the war would last at least thru 2022 while our top kiss ass, er, I mean general said it would last years. That really sets the table for some serious diplomacy, doesn’t it?
This could all change when the disastrous effects from the sanctions start to manifest themselves on the economies of the western nations.
On March 19th, people could get 117 Russian units of currency (ruble) for a dollar. Today, they can get 79. It is not headed in Joe Biden’s desired direction.
Exactly. I hope that trend continues, and the US is forced to change course away from empire building.
Let us call if what it has been since the Clinton administration: full blown war with Russia.
There is a lot of cheering over points scored early in the game. Yeah, we sank a 40-year old warship. Yeah, Ukraine has not surrendered — yet.
There are many ways this could turn into a disaster for the US: Ukraine largely destroyed, and an object lesson to “friends”; those bearing the costs on their economies of real depression and even food shortages abandoning the US embargo system; China empowered; NATO re-divided with centrists in France and Germany losing on both ends, and maybe Britain turfing out its Conservatives with Boris Johnson’s other troubles too.
There are few ways it could turn out well for the US. If everything works out as well as hoped, we’d have won our last 20 years of wars too.
HAHAHAHA! You mean, they had no plan up to now? Big surprise…not.
Reminds me of the scene in “Mad Max – Beyond Thunderdome” where Max asks Pig-Killer, after their escape, “So, what’s the plan?” And Pig-Killer says, “Plan?! There ain’t no plan!”
Like everything else Biden has done so far, the action they are planning will have unintended consequences. Other countries, including some in Europe, are probably asking themselves how much pain they are willing to bear to please the US Crusader?
We may find out in a week in France. A win by Le Pen may signal a grassroots rejection of Biden’s demands.