Biden to confront Russia as acute threat, China as challenger

Washington, May 6: US President Joe Biden has been determined to confront Russia as an “acute threat” and see China as “our military’s most-consequential strategic competitor and pacing challenge”, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks said on Friday. Speaking at the Ronald Reagan Institute, Hicks said, “Russia poses an acute threat to the international system, as illustrated by its ongoing war of choice and its brutal tactics. Our National Defense Strategy fully accounts for Russia’s threats in Europe and beyond.” She emphasized that people in Ukraine remain foremost for the US. She said, “America’s ongoing support to the people of Ukraine exemplifies these priorities in Europe. As President Biden has stated, in the perennial struggle for democracy and freedom, Ukraine and its people are on the front lines. “Thanks to the responsiveness of this Administration and the Unites States Congress, we’ve already delivered over $4 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the start of the Administration — and over $3 billion since the invasion on February 24. That’s remarkable. “To ensure the Ukrainians continue to get the capabilities they need to defend themselves, the President has recently made a request for an additional $33 billion dollars of assistance – $16 billion of which will be for the Department of Defense.” She also said that while “we confront Russia’s aggression and malign activities, the strategy is clear that China is our military’s most-consequential strategic competitor and pacing challenge.” The Defense Deputy Secretary pointed out that the US’ strategy has four priority objectives. She said, “First – defending the homeland – paced to the multi-domain threat that China poses today and can in the future. Second – deterring strategic attacks. Third – deterring aggression, while being prepared to prevail in conflict – prioritizing the PRC challenge in the Indo-Pacific, then the Russia challenge in Europe. And finally – building a resilient Joint Force defense ecosystem.” (UNI)