Nataly Kambur
More and more experts forecast that Russia and China will eventually unite against the USA. If the USA keeps deploying its anti-missile systems in Europe, it may get a union of its most powerful adversaries.
At the same time, American military experts assume that the deployment will cause the opposite effect, i.e. The USA, Russia and China will form a trinity union of former adversaries and current strategic partner.
Why do the Russian and Chinese governments do not share the experts’ enthusiasm? What are the reasons behind the deployment of anti-missile systems? What are the threats to the entire world?
US Anti-Missile System Irritates Russia And China
World Politics Review (USA) published an article, in which the author ponders on the prospects of deploying the US nuclear shield (anti-missile system) in Eastern Europe, Eastern Asia and the Caucasus.
In particular, he gives several arguments:
1. The US anti-missile system is a purely defensive system (the so-called “shield”). However, if it is deployed in Poland, Ukraine, Turkey, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea, it (theoretically) allows the USA to get a preemptive strike on Russia and China. At the same time, the US itself will be defended by the nuclear shield deployed thousands of miles away from its borders.
2. As this weakens Russia and China’s potential, the USA can pursue more aggressive external policies without any fear. Therefore, Russian and Chinese leaders are concerned about the issue: if the US authorities feel like they can come unscathed out of the battle, the USA will start meddling in other countries' business, ignoring Russia and China’s standpoint.
3. The deployment of the US anti-missile system will consolidate the security alliances aimed at hindering the Russian-Chinese influence. Russia and China’s major counterargument is that the US anti-missile system can eliminate the fragile balance of nuclear weapons in the world? Which is the only major deterrent (preventing the world form starting a nuclear war).
Possible Solutions
The author of the article (an American expert) says that the only way out of this confrontation is cooperation. China would be glad to create a common anti-missile system with Russia. However Russia is interested in a world free of anti-missile systems rather than a world full of them. That is why China is currently involved in creating its own nuclear shield.
The author of the article says that while China keeps increasing its nuclear arsenal, Russia and the USA cannot agree on a reduction in nuclear weapons. Therefore he anticipates possible cooperation.
Alternative Expert Opinion: Cooperation Is Impossible
This is what Eugene Olkhovsky (’s leading expert in financial markets from Canada) thinks on the issue:
Despite all the reasoning, there will be no tripartite agreement. Why? Because the USA violates multiple international agreements by the very deployment of its anti-missile system. Yet, there are no reasons to think that the USA will ever abandon this idea.
In order to conclude a tripartite agreement it is necessary to abandon the idea of deploying the nuclear shield. The USA won’t do it as the US authorities started deploying the anti-missile system as because they see Russia and China as possible nuclear threats. Do you really believe that the USA deploys the anti-missile system because the Americans are afraid of Al-Qaeda, Iran or North Korea? Probably, this may turn into a new nuclear arms race.
Nataly Kambur
