The Chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley told lawmakers on Wednesday that China, Russia, and Iran would be a problem for the US “for many years to come”.
Milley, while addressing the House Armed Services Commission alongside Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin raised the concern that the three countries are “getting closer together.”
“I wouldn’t call it a true full alliance in the real meaning of that word, but we are seeing them moving closer together, and that’s troublesome,” Milley said.
“And then…Iran is the third. So those three countries together are going to be problematic for many years to come I think, especially Russia and China because of their capability.”
While the US has made clear for years now that the three countries are focuses of the military – particularly China and Russia – tensions with all three have been on the rise in recent months and even weeks, CNN said.
The US continues to help fund Ukraine’s defence against Russia’s invasion, which Milley said Wednesday “in and of itself is a war crime.” Tensions with China rose recently following a suspected Chinese spy balloon’s travel over the continental US.
READ ALSO: China, Honduras Establish Diplomatic Ties In Blow To Taiwan
It was eventually shot down by the US military off the eastern coast of the country; Chinese Minister of National Defence Wei Fenghe refused to take a call with Austin regarding the incident.
And just last week, the US launched retaliatory strikes against Iran-backed groups in Syria, after a suspected Iranian drone struck a facility housing US personnel, killing an American contractor and injuring five service members.
READ ALSO US Journalist Arrested In Russia Accused Of Spying
Following the US strike, additional rocket and drone attacks were carried out targeting US and coalition personnel in Syria.
Trending video of the day;
Photo Credit: Getty
