Speaking in California after eight days of travel in Asia, Carter also expressed concern about China’s expanding influence and growing military might. But he reserved his strongest words for Russia.
Carter told an audience at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley that Russia was undertaking “challenging activities” at sea, in the air, in space and in cyberspace.
“Most disturbing, Moscow’s nuclear sabre-rattling raises questions about Russian leaders’ commitment to strategic stability, their respect for norms against the use of nuclear weapons, and whether they respect the profound caution nuclear-age leaders showed with regard to the brandishing of nuclear weapons,” he said.
His remarks were perhaps the strongest he has expressed about America’s former Cold War foe.
“We do not seek a cold, let alone a hot, war with Russia,” he said. “We do not seek to make Russia an enemy. But make no mistake; the United States will defend our interests, our allies, the principled international order, and the positive future it affords us all.”
The backdrop to Carter’s remarks is the reality that after more than two decades of dominating great-power relations, the United States is seeing Russia reassert itself and China expand its military influence beyond its own shores.
Carter cited several pillars of the international order that he argued should be defended and strengthened: peaceful resolution of disputes, freedom from coercion, respect for state sovereignty and freedom of navigation.
“Of course, neither Russia nor China can overturn that order,” he said. “But both present different challenges for it.”
at http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/nov/08/russia-is-putting-world-peace-at-risk-says-pentagon-chief-ash-carter
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