Support The Moscow Times!

U.S. Defense Secretary: Russia is Main Threat to U.S. Security

David B. Gleason / Wikicommons

The United States Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter named Russia as one of the biggest challenges to U.S. security, the RIA Novosti news agency reported Friday.

Carter identified five major challenges facing the U.S. military ?€“ Russia, China, North Korea, Iran and terrorism ?€“ at the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services' hearing of the 2017 defense budget on Thursday. This reiterated his earlier address to the Economic Club of Washington in February.

Carter put Russia at the top of this list.

?€?Today's security environment is very different from what it was 25 years ago. It requires new actions and new investments,?€? Carter was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.

Carter referred to Russia and China as ?€?rivals, who have developed and continue to develop military systems that threaten the United States' position in some areas,?€? RIA Novosti reported.

The Pentagon has requested a military budget of $582.7 billion, of which $58.8 billion would be used to finance military operations abroad.

Last month, Carter addressed the Economic Club of Washington on the necessity to reshape spending priorities to reflect a new strategic environment marked by Russian assertiveness and the rise of the Islamic State, Reuters reported.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more