‘ON THE MARCH’: Putin already sees himself at war with the West, Kurt Volker warns

Fox News

14 Sept 202404:00

Summary

TLDRTwo Russian jets were detected in Alaska's air defense zone, marking the second intrusion this week. This coincides with Russia and China's massive military drills involving 90,000 troops, 4000 warships, and 120 planes and helicopters. Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO, Kurt Volker, discusses the strategic alliance between Russia and China, aimed at disrupting the global order. He emphasizes that while Russia seeks to rebuild its empire, China's ambitions are more concerning. Volker argues that providing Ukraine with Western-made missiles is crucial to prevent Russia from establishing a safe haven for attacks, and warns that Putin's ambitions may extend to the Baltic States and other regions that were once part of the Russian Empire.

Takeaways

🔍 Two Russian jets were detected in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone, marking the second such detection in a week.
🔴 Russia and China conducted their largest joint military drills since the Soviet era, involving 90,000 troops, 4000 warships, and 120 planes and helicopters.
🌍 The exercises are seen as a way to disrupt the global world order that has maintained peace for the last 70 years.
🏛️ China aims to make the world revolve around itself and replace the United States as the dominant global power.
🇷🇺 Russia is attempting to rebuild the Russian Empire, indicating a shared interest with China in challenging the status quo.
🤔 The former U.S. Ambassador to NATO suggests that Russia is the junior partner in this alliance, with China being the bigger concern.
🚫 The U.S. Vice President downplays Putin's threats of war, indicating a dismissive stance towards Russia's aggressive posturing.
⚔️ There is concern that providing Ukraine with Western-approved long-range missiles could escalate the conflict and potentially draw the U.S. into the war.
🛡️ The argument is made that not allowing Ukraine to strike back would effectively give Russia a safe haven to launch attacks.
🌐 Putin is perceived as already being at war with the West, with actions including cyber attacks, assassinations, and efforts to take over Ukraine to threaten other European allies.
🏰 The discussion suggests that Putin's ambitions may extend to reestablishing influence over the Baltic States and other regions that were once part of the Russian Empire.

Q & A

What significant military activity was reported near Alaska?
-Two Russian jet fighters were detected and tracked in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone, marking the second detection that week.
What was the scale of the military drills conducted by Russia and China?
-Russia and China held their largest military drills since the Soviet era, involving 90,000 troops, 4,000 warships, and 120 planes and helicopters.
How did Joe Biden respond to Putin's threats towards NATO?
-Joe Biden brushed off Putin's threats, indicating that he doesn't think much about Vladimir Putin.
What is the shared interest between Russia and China according to Kurt Volker?
-They share an interest in disrupting the global world order that has existed for 70 years and created peace for the last 700 years.
What does China want in terms of global influence according to the discussion?
-China wants everything to revolve around itself and aims to replace the United States as the dominant global power.
What is Russia's goal in its current actions as per the conversation?
-Russia is trying to rebuild the Russian Empire.
Why are Russia and China conducting military exercises near U.S. states?
-They are doing these exercises as a way to try to get under the U.S.'s skin and disrupt the global order.
What is the concern regarding the provision of Western-approved long-range missiles to Ukraine?
-There is a concern that it might lead to an escalation that Putin could use as a justification to widen the war.
What does Kurt Volker think about Putin's intentions if he could escalate the war?
-Kurt Volker believes that if Putin could escalate, he would already be doing it, as he is throwing everything at Ukraine and trying to overthrow the government.
What does the conversation suggest about Putin's view of his conflict with the West?
-Putin already sees himself as at war with the West, conducting cyber attacks, targeted assassinations, and arsons, and trying to take over Ukraine to threaten other European allies.
Which countries does Kurt Volker suggest should be cautious of Russia's ambitions?
-Kurt Volker suggests that the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), parts of Poland, and Finland should be cautious as they were also part of the Russian Empire.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 Russian Jets Detected Near Alaska and Joint Military Drills

Two Russian jets were detected in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone, marking the second such occurrence in a week. This event coincides with the largest military drills since the Soviet era, conducted by Russia and China, involving 90,000 troops, 4,000 warships, and 120 planes and helicopters. The discussion includes Joe Biden's dismissal of Putin's threats to attack NATO if Ukraine is permitted to strike inside Russia. Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO, Kurt Volker, is interviewed, explaining that Russia and China share an interest in disrupting the global order, with China aiming to replace the United States and Russia attempting to rebuild its empire. Volker suggests that these military exercises are a provocation intended to unsettle the West.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone

The Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) is a designated area of airspace over which the United States has established a requirement for identification, communication, and control of all aircraft. In the context of the video, two Russian jet fighters were detected and tracked within this zone, indicating a potential security concern. This incident highlights the strategic importance of such zones in maintaining national security and the ongoing tensions between the US and Russia.

💡Military Drills

Military drills are large-scale exercises conducted by armed forces to practice and improve their combat readiness and coordination. The video script mentions the largest military drills since the Soviet era, involving Russia and China, which included a significant number of troops, warships, and aircraft. These drills are indicative of the growing military cooperation between the two countries and their joint intent to project power, which is a central theme in the discussion about global security dynamics.

💡NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an intergovernmental military alliance between North American and European countries. In the script, the discussion revolves around NATO's role in the current geopolitical landscape, particularly in response to Russia's actions and the potential for escalation in the conflict in Ukraine. NATO's stance and actions are crucial in maintaining the balance of power and addressing threats to its member states.

💡Cyber Attacks

Cyber attacks refer to offensive operations against computer systems, networks, or infrastructure with the intent to disrupt, gain unauthorized access, or cause damage. The video mentions cyber attacks as part of Russia's tactics, indicating a broader strategy that goes beyond conventional warfare. This concept is important in understanding the multifaceted nature of modern conflicts and the evolving threats to national security.

💡Assassinations

Assassinations are the act of deliberately killing a prominent person, often for political reasons. The script alludes to targeted assassinations as part of Russia's broader strategy, suggesting a form of covert warfare. This keyword is significant as it underscores the severity of the actions taken by Russia and the lengths to which they are willing to go to achieve their objectives.

💡Arsons

Arsons are acts of deliberately setting fire to property with malicious intent. In the context of the video, arsons are mentioned alongside other forms of covert operations, indicating a pattern of destabilizing activities. This keyword is relevant as it demonstrates the range of tactics that can be employed in modern conflicts, beyond direct military engagement.

💡Ukraine

Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe that has been at the center of a conflict with Russia since 2014. The video script discusses the ongoing war in Ukraine, with a focus on the potential for escalation and the role of Western support. Ukraine serves as a critical point of contention in the narrative, highlighting the geopolitical tensions and the struggle for regional influence.

💡Baltic States

The Baltic States refer to the countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, which are located in Northern Europe and are members of NATO. The video script suggests that these countries could be potential targets for Russia's expansionist ambitions, reflecting historical ties and the current geopolitical climate. This keyword is significant as it points to the broader implications of the conflict in Ukraine and the potential for further destabilization in Europe.

💡Russian Empire

The Russian Empire was a historical empire that existed from the late 18th century until the early 20th century, known for its vast territorial expanse. The video script references the Russian Empire in the context of Russia's current actions, suggesting a desire to reassert historical influence and control. This keyword is important as it provides historical context to the ambitions and actions of the Russian state.

💡Global World Order

The global world order refers to the established system of international relations, alliances, and norms that have maintained relative peace and stability for decades. The video discusses how Russia and China share an interest in disrupting this order, which has significant implications for international security and diplomacy. This keyword is central to understanding the motivations behind the actions of these countries and the challenges they pose to the status quo.

💡Escalation

Escalation in the context of the video refers to the potential for the conflict in Ukraine to expand in scope or intensity, possibly involving more countries or escalating to a larger scale of warfare. The discussion around escalation highlights the risks and the delicate balance of power in the current geopolitical situation, emphasizing the need for careful consideration of actions that could provoke further conflict.

Highlights

Two Russian jet fighters were detected and tracked in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone, marking the second detection this week.

Russia and China held their largest military drills since the Soviet era, involving 90,000 troops, 4,000 warships, and 120 planes and helicopters.

Joe Biden dismissed Putin's threats to attack NATO if Ukraine is allowed to strike inside Russia.

Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO, Kurt Volker, discusses why Russia and China are conducting robust military exercises near U.S. states.

Volker suggests that Russia and China share an interest in disrupting the global world order that has existed for 70 years.

China aims to make everything revolve around itself and wants to replace the United States, while Russia seeks to rebuild the Russian Empire.

Russia is considered the junior partner in the relationship with China, which is the bigger concern.

The military exercises are seen as a way for Russia and China to try to get under the skin of the United States.

Discussion on whether providing Western-approved long-range missiles to Ukraine could lead to an escalation that Putin could use to justify widening the war.

Volker argues that Putin is already escalating the conflict in Ukraine and is not holding back.

Putin's forces have bogged down in Eastern Ukraine, and he is not able to defend other parts of Russia.

Telling Ukrainians not to hit back would give Russia sanctuary, allowing it to strike Ukraine without repercussions.

Allowing Western-made missiles into Ukraine from NATO countries could potentially give Putin a license to widen the war.

Putin already sees himself as at war with the West, conducting cyber attacks, targeted assassinations, and arsons.

It's crucial for Ukraine to stop Russia to prevent further threats to European allies.

Volker suggests that Putin's ambitions might include the Baltic States, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and parts of Poland and Finland, which were once part of the Russian Empire.

The discussion implies that Putin's goal might be to reunite the former USSR territories.